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A BOOK OF GAMES. 



i V 2. 




EMMA J. GRAY. 



PUBLISHED BY 
THK CHRISTIAN HKRAI^ID. 

Louis Klopsch, Proprietor, 
BIBLE HOUSE, NEW YORK. 






Copyright 1897 
By LOUIS KLOPSCH. 




"h 







CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Introductory • . . 7 

Little Folks 9 

Boys and Girls 29 

Grown-Ups 102 

Special Fetes 128 

Methods of Choosing Partners. 184 

Tangles and Forfeits 187 

In the Adirondacks 204 

The Flower Test 220 

Hours with the Poets 235 

" Thank You ! " 239 

A Story within a Story 244 

Orrin tbe Bootblack 258 

Breakfast Table Decorations 270 

How they Planted the Nasturtiums 273 

A Garden Party 276 

The King's Children 281 

For the Boys 287 

I wish I were a General 293 

A Hebrew Christian 298 

The Baby's Lesson 305 

Parlor Fortune Telling 308 

Church Courtesy 314 

A Brave Boy 317 

5 



INTRODUCTORY. 



When children have passed beyond the rattle age, 
they reach out their hands for baa-lambs, woolly sheep, 
cows with bells, cats that meaw, and dogs that say 
bow-wow. 

The next advance in amusement is to play with a toy 
that goes on wheels, and therefore for a half hour at a 
time, little folk will be content by drawing around the 
nursery such toys as trains of cars, horses with long 
tails, express wagons, etc., etc. ; and then follows the 
period when pretty lady dolls must go out to drive in 
a pretty carriage accompanied by mistress baby, whose 
chubby hands push the dolFs carriage ahead, and 
nurse's ever vigilant eyes keep watch, so that neither 
baby nor the baby's doll, like the historic Jack and 
Jill, fall down and break their crown. And mechanical 
dollies are also in demand, — lady dolls that lift their 
veils, smile and bow ; gentlemen dolls that are or- 
chestrian leaders ; boy dolls that can turn somersaults 
and effect other athletic feats. And about this time if 
nurse is careful to keep sharp eyes on the scissors, 
colored pictures may be cut out and pasted in scrap- 
books, or paper dolls may be arrayed as their youthful 
mothers desire. Or bright pieces of silk may be sewed 
together, provided the thread is tied into the needle's 
eye, so that it cannot be pulled out. Or wonderful 
castles may be built with packs of cards, or towers and 
steeples with building blocks. Noah's ark will do 
great service, as will also tops that spin, and hoops that 
may be rolled or twirled, and drums that may be beat, 
and whistles and horns that may be blown. 

But, notwithstanding all the toys and amusement 
therefrom, there will be heard the oftentimes plaintive 

(7) 



8 Introductory. 

wail, " Play with me, please play with me." And then 
it is that the wise mother or nurse will introduce a 
simple game. Perhaps Puss in the Corner, or Blind 
Man's Buff, or perhaps hide behind a large chair or 
screen and call aloud, " Where am I ? " and such a 
mischievous laugh will follow when the toddling child 
finds the one who has thus hidden ! 

From this period game follows game, just as natur- 
ally as year follows year, and even when the little tot 
has grown to womanhood or manhood, the cry is still 
heard, *' Play with me, please play with me," thus il- 
lustrating the trite words, men and women are only 
children grown up. 

Therefore the variety of games within this book: 
Games suitable for all ages, for all temperaments; 
games for the house, and games for the field ; games 
for the girls, and, games for the boys ; games for the 
young, and games for the old ; games for St. Valen- 
tine's Day, games for Christmas Day, — games for all 
seasons, games for all climes. Thus may the year be 
filled with jollity. 

Several games in this volume were originally pub- 
lished in the periodicals of Messrs. Harper & Brothers, 
and are reprinted by their kind permission. 

Emma J. Gray. 



FUN FOR THE HOUSEHOLD. 



LITTLE FOLKS. 

A LITTLE child's PARTY. 

Invite both boys and girls for a short 
frolic. Between three and five o'clock in 
the afternoon would be excellent hours. 

Provide for their entertainment, flowers, 
birds, worsted and rubber balls, dolls, tea- 
services, horses, whips, and music. If you 
have a music-box it will prove very service- 
able. The children will be much interested ; 
some of the shorter ones will stand on tip- 
toe, the better to discover the way the wheels 
go around. 

Two or more grown people should 
be present ; those who understand little 
children, and have a knack in amusing 
them. 

The toys will greatly aid in getting the 
children acquainted. Play ball with the 
boys, throwing it lightly back and forth. 
Set out the tea-services. Show off the dol- 
lies. Put a small boy on a hobby horse, 
and start the horse on a trot, and after he 
has his ride, give another boy his turn. 

(9) 



lO Fini for the Household. 

After a while play polkas and waltzes, and 
then 

What a merry rout, 

See the wee ones dance about ! 

Change the amusement. Show them 
flowers, canary birds, butterflies, anything 
you may have to attract, always remember- 
ing the toys and going back to them again 
and again. 

Low chairs and hassocks will make it 
easier for the little people than to have to 
climb into the great chairs and sofas used 
by older folks. 

Refreshments should be exceedingly sim- 
ple, and a souvenir, such as a cornucopia 
or handful of motto-papers, gayly tinted and 
full of candy, will be much appreciated. 



THE FARMERS SONG. 

A Motion Game, 

As over the field the farmer goes, 

And grain by grain he sows in the rows. 

He sings and shouts. Oh, you crows, you crows, 

Keep away from my rows, away from my rows. 

This is the way the glad farmer reaps 

His wheat, and when it is bunched he keeps 

An eye on all his workers around, 

And laughs at their faces, merry and round. 

This is the way the glad farmer binds 
All the ripe sheaves he*s able to find, 
And when no more wheat is on the ground, 
He laughs ha, ha, ha, and turns all around. 



Fun for the Household. 1 1 

Hurrah, hurrah for the farmer bold 
He laughs and is merry e'en when 'tis cold, 
He shouts ha, ha, on an August day, 
And gathers his wheat as if 'twas his play. 

Oh, who would not be a farmer lad, 
And clap one's hands hard and never be sad, 
And sing, while working all the day long, 
I'm jolly and happy and brave and strong ? 

Let all the players form a ring, with a boy 
in the centre for farmer. After the song is 
sung through, the farmer must choose two 
players to clasp their hands and raise them, 
thus forming an arch. The ring having 
broken, now forms a long line, and one by 
one each individual passes under the arch, 
singing as they go, 

Oh, who would not be a farmer lad, 

and with the last word of the verse the arch 
falls, and thus some one is caught, and he 
or she is now farmer. A ring is then again 
formed, and the game proceeds as before. 

This being a motion game, the words of 
the song must be acted. Every child has 
seen farmers sow, reap and bind, and while 
singing those words they must copy the 
farmer (the boy in the ring) as nearly as 
possible, also remember to clap the hands, 
turn around, etc., at the proper time, indeed 
lose no opportunity to act the words as 
well as to sing them. Tune, ''Oats, peas, 
beans, and barley grows.'' 



12 Fun for the Hotisehold. 

THE pie-man's song. 

A Motion Game, 
Solo. 
If a body meet a body, coming to my fire, 
If a body greet a body, why should I have ire t 
All the lassies and the laddies 
Come to me and buy 
Buns and bread and muffins sweet, 
And all my jelly pie. 

Chorus. 
This is the way the pie-man takes 
The roller to smooth the crust he makes; 
Then putting the crust in a bright tin pan. 
He fills it with quince and raspberry jam. 

This way the pie-man carries bread, 
Holding the board on top of his head; 
While to the oven he hurries along, 
All the time merrily singing his song. 

Solo. 
If a body meet a body, coming to my fire. 
If a body greet a body, why should I have ire } etc. 

Chorus. 
This is the way we eat the cakes. 
And pies and buns the pie-man makes. 
And when we are through we ask yet for more. 
While we dance on the baker's clean wood floor. 

Then we run as fast as we can. 
And leave this jolly baker man. 
While to the oven he hurries along. 
All the time merrily singing his song. 

Solo. 
If a body meet a body, coming to my fire, 
If a body greet a body, why should I have ire ? etc. 



Fun for the Household, 13 

The verses may be sung to the tune, ' * Pop 
Goes the Weasel/' The solo is sung- by the 
baker, to the tune, ''Coming Through the 
Rye." 

All the children should sing and imitate 
the pieman, who illustrates each action that 
is mentioned. 

FLY SOUTH. 

Very small children would delight in play- 
ing Fly South. 

All the players should sit around a table, 
and each having put their right hand on it, 
the leader should exclaim, ''Fly South, 
Sparrow." The second that this is said 
everybody must lift their hand, and then at 
once put it down as before. Again the 
leader speaks, perhaps to say, " Fly South, 
Pigeon," and instantly the players must act 
as at the first command. 

But if on the contrary something is named 
that cannot fly, such as, " Fly South, Bear," 
or '* Fly South, Cat," the players must keep 
their hands on the table. All removing them 
at the wrong time should pay a forfeit. 

The leader should speak rapidly, in order 
to catch all he can. 



THREE BLIND MICE. 

Ask three small boys to be blindfolded. 
When this is done, and they each state that 



14 Fun for the Household. 

they cannot see, even the least little bit, a 
big sister or mother should say, ^' You are 
three blind mice and I am the farmers 
wife, and I am going to run, and as soon as I 
count three you must run after me. Whoever 
catches me first shall have a big apple ; v;rho- 
ever catches me second shall have two big 
apples ; and when I am caught by the third 
I shall present that blind mouse with three 
big apples." 

Having made the above explanation, the 
farmer's wife deliberately counts one, two, 
three, and on the instant three is spoken, 
the blind mice run. 

As soon as the running starts, all others 
sing, 

Three blind mice, see how they run, 
They all ran after the farmer's wife. 

This may be sung over and over until the 
blind mice succeed. Having run a few mo- 
ments, the farmer^s wife should allow her- 
self to be caught, as this game being partic- 
ularly suited to little children, they would 
not have the skill in catching known to 
older people. 

If it is not convenient to give apples as 
reward, substitute something else. Almost 
any trifling gift would do. 

While running is in continuance, be care- 
ful the children do not trip. 



Fun for the Household. 15 

THE HOLIDAY CALENDAR. 

** I have a holiday calendar/' a little boy 
should say to a little girl. 

** Where is it?" 

**Here." And directly he holds up his 
hand with fingers spread towards her. 

*'See my five fingers. They stand for 
our five holidays.'' Then touching his 
thumb he should continue, 

'* This is for Mayday, so sweet," and then 
touching the finger next, ''Jolly Fourth, 
with its noise," afterwards indicating the 
middle finger, ''Thanksgiving and pump- 
kin pies," and touching the next finger, 
"Christmas, for girls and boys," and hold- 
ing up his little finger concludes, "Happy 
New Year to all." 



THE SEA AND HER CHILDREN. 

The players, with the exception of one 
sent from the room, must be seated in a 
circle. The person having left will repre- 
sent the Sea. All others must now decide 
on an assumed name, which is also the 
name of a fish ; for example, trout, red 
snapper, pickerel. This done, the Sea re- 
turns and walks slowly around the outside 
of the ring, calling her children, one after 
another, by the different names they have 
selected, until all have risen and followed 
her. Then the Sea must run with a varied 



1 6 Fu7i for the Household. 

motion, sometimes rapid, sometimes slow, 
exclaiming-, ''The Sea is troubled! the Sea 
is troubled ! '' Suddenly she seats herself, 
and her example is followed by her children. 
The unfortunate individual who is unable to 
secure a chair becomes the Sea, and the 
game is continued as before. 

Cinderella's slipper. 

Every child has heard the pretty story of 
Cinderella and her glass slipper. Now learn 
who will have bright enough eyes to find it. 

The fairy godmother cannot really let you 
have Cinderella's slipper, but she allows any 
of the children to hunt for a slipper that is 
made of fur, or trimmed with fur. This 
slipper should have Cinderella's card pinned 
to it, and whoever finds the slipper should 
be given the card as a souvenir. 

Cinderella's slipper should be well hidden, 
but not where little people could not reach. 
While the hunt is in progress, whoever has 
hidden the slipper should call ''Warm, 
Warmer, Cold, Colder," as the children get 
nearer or further away. 

THE MAN IN THE MOON. 

Have a circle two feet in diameter cut out 
of plain white paper. At the time the game 
is to be played some one should pin this on 
the back of the Lord of Misrule. He must 



Fitii for the Household. 17 

then whistle and caper all about the room, 
thus attracting- attention, and seat him- 
self at the piano, and sing at the top of his 
lungs, 

Girls and boys, come out to play. 

As soon as he sings the word play, every 
girl and boy rushes forward and catching 
each other by the hand, they dance and skip 
about to the tune played by the Lord of 

Misrule, while all sing, 

Girls and boys come out to play. 
The moon doth shine as bright as day, 
Leave your supper and leave your sleep, 
And meet your playfellows in the street, 
Come with a whoop and come with a call. 

The second the words whoop and call are 
uttered the most throat-splitting whoops and 
calls should be given ; such as cat calls, 
wild beast groans, crying, barking, bird 
notes, etc. The circle disbands during the 
laughter and confusion, but the game may 
be played over and over as long as the Man 
of the Moon shall will. 



HOW MANY .? 

This is really a game of guess. Shake a 
small bag full of beans before the children, 
and ask each to guess how many beans are 
inside. 



1 8 Fun for the Household, 

It will be amusing to watch the eagerness 
which all will show, and how far apart the 
guesses will be. 

Whoever comes nearest to the correct 
number should be presented with the bag of 
beans. And this gift will immediately afford 
healthful and jolly entertainment, because 
the bean-bag should be tossed and caught 
by one and another until the rosy-cheeked 
and out-of-breath children call a halt. 

ALPHABETICAL PLAY. 

Cut out a square of carboard, six inches 
wide by six inches long. Put an eyelet in 
each of the two upper corners and run tape 
or ribbon through. Cut it of sufficient length 
to go over a child's head. The children 
should wear the cardboard as if it was a 
breastplate. 

You should have twenty-six children, and 
you will therefore require twenty-six pieces 
of cardboard. In the centre of each piece, 
paint a letter of the alphabet. Should you 
have fewer children, paint two or more 
letters on each cardboard, for you must use 
the entire alphabet. 

The children should first march up and 
down in alphabetical order, keeping time to 
music. They may then join hands in couples 
and skip or waltz or whatever pleasing move- 
ments may be suggested. 

After these exercises call for words, being 



Fun for the Household. 19 

careful which words you will require if you 
have doubled or trebled the letters. . As each 
word is called, the child wearing the first 
letter steps forward, then the one wearing- the 
second letter comes and stands by her side, 
and so on, until the word is spelled. 

Very short and simple words should be 
called if the children are not sufficiently 
advanced to allow for longer or more diffi- 
cult ones. Dog, Cat, Bird, will furnish just 
as much amusement as Prodigy, Yclept, 
Bask. 

Intersperse the word exercises with 
marches and other movements, such as 
** Right-about-face," to be done by a chord, 
or *' wheel to the left," to be done by an- 
other. Form squares and circles. Join 
hands, thus making a ring. Into this ring the 
letter A goes, the others skip around her, until 
she makes a motion like something commen- 
cing with A ; for example, Apple, which she 
pretends to eat. One or more of the com- 
pany guesses what word she represents, and 
then B enters the ring, and so on as long as 
the game amuses. 



BLINDFOLDED PLATTER TWIRLING. 

This game is similar to the old-time favor- 
ite. 

All players should sit in a circle, and each 
number themselves in rotation. 



20 Fun for the Household. 

Two of the party should be blindfolded. 
They are then each given a platter, and they 
enter the ring. 

The others call, one, two, three. As soon 
as three is called, those inside the ring twirl 
the platters, and at the same moment they 
each shout a number which corresponds to 
two of the players in the circle. Should 
either of the bearers of the numbers catch 
his platter before it falls, the original twirler 
must try over again and continue to twirl 
and call until the platter is not caught. 

But should the platter have fallen before 
the child bearing the number called has 
caught it, he must not only change places 
with the one who has twirled the platter, but 
also pay a forfeit. 

Much amusement is derived, not only 
from catching the platter, but in watching 
the ridiculous movements of those who are 
blindfolded. 



THE WILD BEAST EXHIBIT. 

By the side of a pier-glass stand a lamp, 
and before both put a screen. 

The one in charge stands in front, and hav- 
ing stated that he is ready to exhibit his wild 
beasts to any one present who will not tell 
what he has seen, asks who would like to 
come to the exhibition, all desiring to, please 
rise. He then takes them in turn, always 
exacting the promise of secrecy, and asks 



Fun for the Household. 21 

the name of the animal each would like to 
see. 

On learning the name, the showman de- 
scribes the animal as funnily as possible, 
making all manner of sport, and engaging 
every one's attention to the individual who 
is to go to the show. As for example, if 
the person be a boy, and says he would like 
to see a lion, when the boy laughs, the 
showman will say, ^*And the lion roars 
just like you. '' After this he is admitted, and 
sees himself in the looking-glass. 

NEW TAG. 

The tallest player should begin the game. 

This person turning to the first right hand 
player should say **Yes"; to the second, 
" No '' ; and so on all around, saying yes or 
no, as the case may be, to yourself last. 
Whoever is the last person to whom ''No'' 
is said, however, is out of the game, and the 
one who commenced the game, again goes 
around the ring. If she has said *' Yes" to 
herself last, then the one to her right hand 
is now told ''No,'' and thus "Yes," "No," 
is said all around again and again and so on, 
until there are but two players. Whichever 
one is Yes, must then be " It." 

All the players now stand at a given dis- 
tance from " It," and a tree or object being 
selected as a place of safety, they are ready 
to begin. 



22 Fun for the House I told. 

*'It" calls to the others, ^^One foot off," 
then each player raises one of their feet. 
**Two feet on," at which order everybody's 
feet are immediately upon the sidewalk. 
*' Two feet off," may then be called, at which 
order all rush at their utmost speed, and * ' It " 
after them. Should anybody be caught be- 
fore reaching the tree of safety, that person 
must change places with * ' It, " and the game 
continues as before. 

The orders, ^'One foot off," ^^Two feet 
on," etc., should be called very rapidly, so 
that everybody is mixed up and will not 
suspect when two feet off will be called. 
Sometimes the orders are repeated over and 
over, and again, '*Two feet off " may be 
said the first time. 



THE GREENGROCER. 

Any boy may start the game, by saying, 
*'I am a greengrocer and I sell O." All of 
the children must now guess what the 
grocer would have for sale that would com- 
mence with the letter O. 

He means he has onions for sale. Who- 
ever is the first to guess, whether it is a girl 
or a boy, now becomes the greengrocer 
and uses the same words as before, only 
substituting another letter. Perhaps the 
greengrocer has cucumbers or carrots for 
sale ; in that case he would sell C. 



Fun for the Household, 23 

This game is capable ; of a variety of 
changes, for example, *'I am a milliner, and 
I am going to put F on your hat" All the 
girls must now guess what a milliner could 
put on a hat that would commence with F, 
and some one is not long in deciding that the 
milliner means ''Flowers/' 

The next milliner may say, ''I am a 
milliner and 1 am going to put D flowers on 
your hat." 

And all must think what varities of 
flowers commence with the letter D, and 
in a second some one calls out, ''Dai- 
sies. '' 

This being correct, the one who has 
guessed becomes milliner. 

In like manner a boy may say, "I am a 
New York jeweler, and I sell G," and all the 
players must think what a jeweler could 
offer for sale that would commence with 
the letter G. 

Soon a voice asks, "Is it Gold.?" But 
that is not correct, this jeweler is selling 
Garnets. 

Or the game may be confined to a country. 
Example : "I am a Japanese merchant and 
I sell S." 

The players must think what the merchant 
has for sale that comes from Japan, and 
that commences with the letter S. 

Thus with care this game may be played 
by a small child with as much success as by 
an adult. 



24 Fu7i for the Household. 

RUBIES AND EMERALDS. 

Two players decide as to which one will 
represent rubies and which emeralds, with- 
out telling the others. 

They then join hands to form an arch. 
All the rest take hold of each other s jackets 
or frocks, and while going through the arch 
they sing, 

All of a row, 
Bend the bow, 
Shot at a pigeon 
And killed a crow. 
The cock doth crow 
To let you know, 
If you be well. 

The second that the last word is sung, 
those who have formed the arch drop their 
arms around the neck of the child just pass- 
ing under. Then they inquire in a whisper 
which he would rather have, Rubies or Em- 
eralds. When he decides, he must whisper 
the answer, and he will then be told to go 
back of the player that represents that stone. 

When all have been caught, those back of 
the stone that has had the most admirers 
now hide, while the others seek for them. 
Should the rubies have precedence, the eme- 
ralds are the ones to hunt, or if the emeralds, 
the rubies are the ones to hunt. Whichever 
stone is in the minority must seek for the 
others. Whoever finds the most rubies or 
emeralds, as the case may be, is counted the 



Fun for the Household, 25 

richest, as this player possesses the most 
treasure. 

The players who have formed the arch 
keep watch that all is done fairly. 



WHAT THE DANDELIONS SAID 

Is the old game familiar to all from baby- 
hood — that of blowing the soft down of the 
ripened dandelion to learn, '' How old am 
I } " Blow once, one year old ; blow twice, 
two years, and so on, until all the downy 
stuff has gone. The number of times the 
blows have been given before the down has 
altogether disappeared indicates the age. 

Or, ^^What time is liV 

This is indicated in the same way. Blow 
once, and if all the down is gone, it is one 
o'clock, twice, two o'clock, and so on. 

DAISY CATCH. 

All the boys and girls should stand in a 
group, with the exception of one girl, and to 
her is given a bunch of daisies. She is 
known as ** Daisy Girl." A tree is selected 
as a place of safety and the other girls count 
ten, allowing ten seconds for the count. 
During the counting, Daisy Girl runs where- 
ever she pleases, but the moment ten is 
spoken, the boys and girls may race after 
her. The idea is to tag her while the flowers 
are in her hand. If she is tagged the girl 



26 Fun for the Household. 

must then throw the daisies as if they were 
a ball to the boy or girl tagging her. If 
they are caught the game proceeds as before, 
by reversing the players, but if the flowers 
are not caught, Daisy Girl may try again. 
She may also demand another chance, if, 
when fearing she would be tagged, ,she 
throws the daisies away, and catches them 
again before any of the other players. When 
the game is repeated it commences regularly 
from the beginning, the players taking the 
same position as at the start. 

DIBBS. 

This is the English name for Jack-Stones. 

Where a number of children are playing 
together, test who can pick up the greater 
number without dropping any, within ten 
minutes. 

The oldest child should keep count, and 
also watch the time, in order that no mis- 
takes occur. The counter should have each 
of the players' names written on a slate 
or piece of paper, with sufficient room for 
his scores. When a Dibb or Jack-Stone 
has been dropped, this party must com- 
mence afresh. He, however, may yet win ; 
for his opponents may drop many more 
Dibbs than he. The only score to count is 
after the last Dibb has been dropped. A 
player might have reached a score of thirty 
or more, but having failed to catch his Dibb, 



Fun for the Household, 27 

it drops and he must now count one, two, 
and so on without regard to former count. 
When the ten minutes have expired, the 
counter should call " Game, "and the players 
must stop on the second. 

TOUCH. 

This game is for little children, though it 
may be played by children of all ages. It 
is at its best as an out-of-door recreation. 

Chalk off a part of a lawn or use a small 
grass plot. On this put a number of paper- 
covered packages. Then blindfold one of 
the children, and, in the sight of all the 
others, touch a package. When this is done 
the blindfold may be removed, and the 
child told he may have all the packages for 
his own, until he takes the one touched, then 
he must stop. Sometimes the player is un- 
fortunate enough to pick up the touched 
package first, if so, he must surrender this 
also, unless the players vote he may try 
again. No one may try more than twice. 

On the contrary an occasional child may 
pick up every package before the one 
touched, when that happens the touched 
package is also added as a reward. 

This game interests all, and when the 
touched package is picked up, the children 
scream with laughter. The contents of the 
packages may be a little candy, inexpensive 
toys, an apple, pear or other fruits, also 



28 Fun for the Household. 

nuts. Each present is temptingly wrapped, 
and as this game is played over and over 
no one gift should cost beyond a penny or 
two. It makes great fun to undo the pack- 
ages, and generous children always divide 
with the unfortunate. 



SNAPPING-ROPES. 

This is a Scotch game, usually played by 
girls, but there is no reason why boys should 
not play also. 

Two skipping-ropes are required. Two 
players turn the pair of ropes, holding the 
ends of both ropes in one hand precisely 
the same as if they were turning a single 
rope, and the third player stands between 
and jumps. Whoever is jumper cannot be 
lazy, as that party has to jump twice as 
rapidly as if jumping in a single rope. 



Flui for the Household. 29 



BOYS AND GIRLS. 

SILHOUETTES. 

Place a lighted candle behind a tall screen 
covered with white linen. The hostess 
should sit before it and each of the com- 
pany must in turn pass between the candle 
and the screen. The game is to guess the 
person behind the screen by means of their 
shadow. 

The guesser should leave the room while 
the one to be named is selected, and on re- 
turning, he should not look to find out who 
is missing, but honestly guess from the sil- 
houette. 

Sometimes it adds to the fun to use a dis- 
guise, as at a masquerade, for example, put 
on a long skirt, fasten up the hair, etc., in 
no case cover the face, as it is difficult to 
give the right name, with every advantage. 

THE SURPRISE. 

Learn what you can do with five pieces 
of paper. The margin of a newspaper may 
be utilized if no other paper is convenient. 
These pieces should be one inch long by 
half an inch wide. The scheme is to shape 
them into squares, triangles, etc., the one 



30 Fun for the Houseliold, 

who wins the game is the one who can ac- 
complish the most with his five pieces. 

He need not use the entire five each time, 
but he cannot add to the number of papers, 
nor can he mark them with pen, pencil or 
any other thing. 

As a matter of fact the whole alphabet 
can be formed with them, and so many 
other unique designs that this game fully 
merits its name. 



HAPHAZARD READING. 

To be played by nine people ; should 
there be more present, draw for the players. 
And, as but one of the party will read, draw 
to decide which one. 

The reader then, having a pencil and 
paper, writes the parts of speech, as the 
players in turn whisper to him : 



No. 


I. 


An Article. 




No. 


2. 


An Adjective. 




No. 


3. 


A Noun. 




No. 


4. 


A Verb. 




No. 


5. 


An Adverb. 




No. 


6. 


A Number. 




No. 


7. 


An Adjective. 




No. 


8. 


A Noun. 




These having been written, 


the sentences 


must then be read aloud : 




Example : 




No. 


I 


whispers the article The. 


No. 


2, 


the adjective Pink. 





No. 


3, 


No. 


4, 


No. 


5, 


No. 


6, 


three. 




No. 


1, 


No. 


8, 


The 


S( 



Fun for the Household, 31 

the noun Hawthorn. 

the verb Plays. 

the adverb Prettily. 

the number Three hundred and 

the adjective Fantastic. 

the noun Operas, 
sentence to be read, therefore, is, 
The pink hawthorn plays prettily three hun- 
dred and three fantastic operas. 

The easiest way to draw will be to pro- 
vide several slips of paper, of exact size and 
shape. Some of the papers must be blank, 
others numbered, i, 2, 3, and so on, making 
nine in all. Put these papers on a tray and 
pass to all in the room. The one drawing 
the number 9 must be the reader, the other 
numbers decide whether that individual 
must whisper an article or an adjective, ac- 
cording to the example given. Those hav- 
ing blank papers do not play. 

SING, BIRDIE, SING. 

This game provokes laughter from the 
most solemn individual. The company 
should be seated in a ring. The one in 
command enters the ring and makes much 
ceremony in giving each player the name of 
a bird ; which may be, for example, heron, 
kingfisher, bluebird, cat-bird, wood-thrush. 
When each have been named, the com- 
mander then whispers something to every 



32 Fun for the Household. 

person. What he whispers is a motion or 
sound or both, which he wishes the person to 
give. When everybody has received their 
cue, thecommandersteps to the centre of the 
ring and calls, '* One, two, three.'' The mo- 
ment " Three" is spoken, each of the company 
rise, and running round the circle of empty 
chairs, flap their arms in imitation of wings, 
sing or call as they have been directed. 
The heron should make a motion as though 
trying to get little fish out of holes in the 
bottom of a pond, or he should stand on one 
leg and appear to be asleep. The king- 
fisher should brush up his hair, making it 
rough on the top, and then act as if diving 
for minnows. The bluebird should warble 
a sweet song. The cat-bird should appear 
full of fun and make melodious notes, but 
he should also add the complaining mee-aa ; 
for the cat-bird is sometimes a wonderful 
songster, but after nesting gives a sound 
that is decidedly cat-like. The wood-thrush 
should sing a most tender melody, and the 
more melancholy the better. Hawks, 
wood-peckers, chickadees, parrots, screech- 
owls, ducks, geese and many other birds 
might be added. The greater variety in- 
troduced the better. 



SQUIRREL IN THE MIDDLE. 

This is a game for boys, and the player is 
decided by lot. 



Fun for the Household. 33 

The easiest way to arrange the lot is to 
throw as many bits of paper, of similar size 
and shape, into a hat as there are players. 
All of these papers are blank excepting one, 
this has the word '* player" written on it. 
The hat is then passed, and the boy drawing 
the word '* player" immediately sits on the 
floor, the others stand in a circle around 
him. Whoever is behind his back, pulls his 
coat, or gently pulls his hair, taking him 
unawares. He turns to catch this boy, but 
while doing so another boy buffets him. 
As the players dance about the circle, they 
exclaim, *' Squirrel in the middle catch him 
if you can. " 

Finally one of the boys is caught, and he 
must then change places with the one he 
has been tormenting. 

TABLESPOONS. 

Form a circle, one of the number going 
into the ring. Present that person with a 
tablespoon for each hand, and blindfold 
him. 

Then state that the others will skip around 
him three times and then stop. As soon as 
they stop, they will let go hands and stand 
perfectly still. The party in the ring now 
moves towards one of the players and must 
tell who he is by touching him with the 
spoons only. If his guess is correct, the 
person caught now exchanges places with 
3 



34 Fun for the Household, 

the one in the ring ; if he is incorrect, he 
must try again. 

This game is not as difficult as it at first 
appears. Carefully notice the peculiarity 
of clothing each one has on before you en- 
ter the ring, whether, for instance, the frock 
is trimmed, buttoned, etc., or the scarf is a 
four-in-hand ornamented with a scarf-pin, 
or if the scarf is run through a ring or tied in 
a bow. Note also the wearing of the hair 
and every detail that may occur to you, and 
remember that the spoons may be used 
whichever way one pleases. So, if they 
touch beads, and there is only one person 
who is wearing beads that will at once in- 
dicate the individual ; or if the spoon knocks 
against a scarf pin and there is only one 
boy wearing a scarf pin, he will of necessity 
be recognized, and thus each player is 
caught. 

THE emperor's COURT. 

Put a conspicuously handsome chair in 
the centre of the room, also an ottoman for 
the feet. On either side of this put as many 
ordinary chairs as would accommodate the 
players. 

One of the company now goes to the 
piano, and plays a march, all of the others, 
rise, and, with considerable ceremony, escort 
the tallest boy in the room to the chair of 
honor. 



Fun for the Household, 35 

This boy now becomes an Emperor, and 
the chair at his disposal, his throne, the rest 
of the players his court. Immediately the 
Emperor is seated, the music stops, and the 
pianist together with the court seat them- 
selves also. 

This game consists in copying the Em- 
peror. If he pretends to cry, the court must 
cry, if he suigs, the court must sing. The 
J^mperor should make himself as ridiculous 
as is possible. 

Or he might order one of the court to play 
the piano and have a dance, or give a set of 
military tactics. 

Should any of the court laugh at a time 
the Emperor is not laughing, he or she must 
pay a forfeit. 



THREE LITTLE PIGS. 

This game is played after the same man- 
ner as is Silhouettes, only those taking part 
should be in costume, representing the words 
they illustrate. It makes capital sport, and 
nobody can fail to enjoy it, whether taking 
part or not. The game is easily understood, 
and is best described by an example. 

One of the company should distinctly say, 

Three little pigs went to market. 
When this is said, three pigs should appear 



36 Fun for the Household. 

as if going to market, passing between a 
candle and a white covered screen, they 
should grotesquely walk, so adding to the 
amusement. When these three have hob- 
bled off, the reader then recites, 

Three little pigs stayed at home, 

which is likewise shown by three others of 
the company ; then in like manner, 

Three little pigs have bread and butter, 

and so on through the rhyme, illustrating 
every scene. 

Paper will be found all the material neces- 
sary to effect a disguise. Cut it in the form 
of ears, etc. , as is needed, and practise effects 
before producing the game to amuse an 
audience. 



THE FUNNY PRIMA DONNAS. 

Three girls should wear ridiculous cos- 
tumes, making themselves as grotesque as 
possible. Each one being a prima donna, 
should try to outdo the other in appearance 
as also in voice. The hair should be fash- 
ioned after the same arrangement as that of 
a celebrated vocalist, the hands and arms 
should be covered with evening gloves. 
The material of the frock need not be costly, 
but it should be smart and showy ; the frock 
should be made with a train. Each should 



Fun for the Household. 37 

carry a conspicuous fan, or immense bou- 
quets of large bright flowers, such as full- 
blown roses, poppies, yellow chrysanthe- 
mums, etc. The bouquets should be trimmed 
elaborately around with white paper lace. 

At an appropriate time the hostess wnll 
announce the arrival of three celebrated 
Prima Donnas, and before they appear she 
will give each of the company a noticeably 
colored paper flower, or bunch of flowers, 
such as marigolds, morning glories, scarlet 
geraniums. Having given the flowers, she 
will say, ** When the artists have concluded 
their song, let each one do as I do." 

This said, the artists enter, and having 
promenaded to the front room, gesticulating 
all the time, they bow and sing a line each, 
and each in a different key, to the tune of 
** Auld Lang Syne," the following : 

Young Mousy Mouse 

Has made a house 

Out of the farmer's cheese, 

Then in chorus^ — 

And eats away 

With friends each day, 

As jolly as you please. 

Then separately the first three lines of the 
second verse, — 

But Mousy Mouse 

Don't see her house 

Soon swallowed up must be. 



38 Fun for the Household. 

In chorus, — 

And with that house 
Goes that poor mouse 
As sure as sure can be. 

The instant the last word is sung, the host- 
ess, with all her might and main, throws her 
flower to reach the artist's feet, and as the 
company has been told to copy her, there 
is a perfect rain of flowers. Afterwards they 
are gathered, and divided between the 
Prima Donnas, who triumphantly carry 
them home as souvenirs of their charming 
reception. 

DO YOU HEAR .? 

This game needs two persons. 

Stand at a distance from your confederate 
who will ask, '* Molly, do you hear? " and 
who will keep up asking the question until 
some one speaks. Then Molly says she 
hears and leaves the room. 

No sooner out, than her confederate will 
explain to the company, ' ' I shall hand some 
one in this room a button, and I shall then 
ask Molly to tell me who has it.'' Having 
thus explained, he hands the button to the 
individual who spoke just before Molly left 
the room. Then the confederate calls, 
'' Molly, who has the button } " 

At once Molly replies correctly. The key 



Fun for the Household, 39 

is very simple, being only to remember the 
person who spoke as she left the room. 

The game when played with a boy, should 
have the word Johnny substituted for Molly. 



LAUGHABLE DINNER. 

Each girl in succession leads a boy to a 
position to dance a reel. 

First girl then says to first boy, *'This is 
my flower to decorate the table/' and she 
gives him a flower which he puts in his 
buttonhole. 

Second girl to second boy, ^'This is my 
flower to decorate the table," and she gives 
him a different flower, which he puts in his 
buttonhole. 

Third girl to third boy, *' You tread clams 
for dinner," and the i3oy must make the 
motion of treading clams. 

Fourth girl to fourth boy, ''You catch 
trout for dinner," and the boy makes believe 
he is a fly-fisherman. 

Fifth girl to fifth boy, *' You get lamb to 
roast," and the boy calls, " Bah ! bah ! " 

Sixth girl to sixth boy, "You get the tur- 
key to roast." and the boy gives the call of 
a turkey-gobbler. 

Seventh girl to seventh boy, ''You shoot 
the duck for roasting," and the boy calls, 
*' Quack! Quack!" 

Eighth girl to eighth boy, "You are my 



40 Fiui for the Houseliold, 

pigeon to bake in a pie/' and the boy flaps 
his arms in imitation of wings. 

Ninth girl to ninth boy, *' You area baker 
and must bake our cake/' and this boy pre- 
tends to beat eggs. 

Tenth girl to tenth boy, ''You are the 
young man who grinds good coffee," and 
he makes believe he is turning the crank of 
a coffee-mill. As soon as the tenth boy re- 
sponds, a couple of good whistlers whistle 
Yankee Doodle, all the others dance a reel, 
repeating their calls and motions while 
dancing. 

JOLLY PLAY. 

Arrange chairs in couples back to back, 
placing them in different parts of the room, 
and have one too few for your company. 

All the players stand, one behind the 
other, the one in charge at the head of the 
line. He leads the party whichever way he 
pleases. As they march, the leader sings to 
the tune of, ''There were Three Crows sat 
on a Tree," 

I must be gay 

This merry day, 

But game obey 

I will, I will. 

He may march about and sing this verse 
as often as he wishes, but while singing, "I 
will, I will,'' he must some time fling him- 
self into a chair. As soon as the leader is 



Fun for the Household. 41 

seated, the others make a bold rush to follow 
his example. The player for whom there is 
no seat, now becomes leader, and the rest 
of the company follow as before. 



THE DWARF. 

A boy should put his hands into small 
stockings and shoes. Then put on a wig of 
different color from his own hair. He must 
fasten on a moustache, and put some black 
sticking plaster over one or two of his front 
teeth. His coat should be of a different 
shape and his necktie should be of a dif- 
ferent style from that which he usually 
wears. Indeed, he must be thoroughly 
disguised. Back of him, another boy must 
stand, and pass his arm around the first 
boy's shoulder. 

Curtains must be drawn so that no part 
of the second boy is seen but his arms. 

Put a small table before them, and from 
the back of this table drop a cloth, so as to 
conceal the first boy below his waist. The 
front boy puts his hands dressed in shoes 
on the table, the boy back of him supplies 
his arms and hands, and if properly arranged 
a dwarf from three to four feet tall is thus 
produced. 

Of course, a tiny costume must be made. 
Little Turkish trousers, a blouse-like coat, a 
fez, a belt and small sword. 



42 Fun for the Household. 

It is well to have an exhibitor who should 
tell some wonderful tale about the dwarf. 
And the exhibitor should indicate that the 
dwarf jokes, sings and dances, an exhibition 
of which should then follow. 

The dwarf should be fully prepared as to 
what he will say and do. Several spicy 
jokes should be at his tongue's end. He 
should gesticulate violently with his hands 
and arms, and likewise sing the jolliest of 
songs and dance the drollest dances. 

It requires practice. 



CROWN GAME. 

A girl enters the ring ; all the others take 
firm hold of the rope. No sooner is she in 
than they skip about her, keeping the rope 
in motion. As they skip they sing, to the 
tune of *' Auld Lang-syne,'' 

Who*ll crown our queen, our merry queen, 
Who'll crown our queen to-day } 
Who'll crown our queen, our merry queen. 
Who'll crown our queen to-day } 

When this is sung, the children stop skip- 
ping just where they are. And at once one 
of the boys puts his head under the rope, 
and, standing by the queen, replies, *'I 
will.'' Then raising a crown of wild flow- 
ers, he puts it on her head. No sooner is 
she crowned than she blindfolds the boy, 



Fun for the Household, 43 

and another girl enters, thus making two 
girls in the ring. The game is to '' tag'' the 
right girl before the other players count nine. 
When the boy ''tags" the girl, he must at 
once say whether or not she is the queen, 
and if he makes a mistake he must remain 
in the ring and try again. The first girl 
withdraws, the second girl is crowned queen, 
and the game is repeated. But should he 
make no mistake, the boy remains in the 
ring, is crowned king, and the game goes 
on, only that two boys are in the ring when 
a girl is blindfolded. 



GUESS. 

A Rope Game, 

Put a rope on the ground in the form of a 
circle ; in the centre put a stone about the 
size of a duck's Qg'g, The players stand 
backwards around the rope, with their heels 
touching it. Each one in turn throws a 
grace-hoop over his right shoulder, with the 
hope it will encircle the stone. As soon as 
the hoop is thrown all may turn and see the 
position. If the hoop encircles the stone 
the player may try again and again, until 
he fails, counting one for each time. Then 
the party to his right tries, and so on all 
around the rope. Whoever has the largest 
count wins the game. 



44 F^^^ fo'^ ^^^^ Household. 

This game is also played facing the stone ; 
it is then no longer a game of guess, but a 
game of skill 

THE CIRCLE. 

On the floor or ground mark a circle, the 
diameter of which is two feet. 

The easiest way would be to use a hoople 
of the correct size, and chalk it all around 
close to the wood. Be careful not to move 
the hoople while marking. Therefore, one 
person would better hold the hoople, while 
another uses the chalk. 

Eight players are required, two and two 
standing together, taking the same positions 
as if they were to dance a quadrille. The 
circle must be in the centre of the space 
around which they stand, and the players 
should be six feet from the outer edge. 

In the circle place four small articles, three 
without much value, and the other of some 
little value. x\s an example, put in three 
empty bottles, and one filled with inexpen- 
sive perfume, or if you use flowers, put three 
dandelions, and one half-blown rose. All 
articles must be laid side by side, and as 
nearly as possible, in the exact centre of the 
circle. 

When all is ready, the host, being at the 
piano, should play **Pop Goes the Weasel." 
and if the game is played out of doors, 
the same tune should be hummed or whis- 



Fun for the Household. 45 

tied. When the music starts, the head 
couples join hands and skip to the circle and 
then back, this must be again and again 
repeated, until the pianist suddenly stops. 
Those who have been skipping must then 
bow to each other w^herever they happen to 
be, also unclasp their hands, and neither 
run nor walk, but skip as rapidly as possible 
to the circle ; sometimes they are fortunate 
enough to be by it when the music stops ; 
then at once pick up one of the articles, and 
skip back to the position held at the time 
the game started. 

These movements must be finished be- 
fore the musician again commences to play. 
Then, holding the article in one hand and 
your partner's hand in the other, you skip 
twice around the circle, and return to posi- 
tion. The head couple leading, all the 
others following after the same order, as the 
march in a quadrille. 

The articles are then put where they were 
at the game's start, and the side couples 
repeat what the head couples have already 
done. 

The musician should allow enough time 
to make it possible for all the players to pick 
up an article, but he must not allow too 
much time, or a prominent feature in the 
game is missed. 

Every one is desirous to pick up the valu- 
able article, but if you are not careful the 
music will start before you have gotten any- 



46 Fun for the Household. 

thing : in that case you must be blindfolded 
and skip all alone four times around the cir- 
cle. While you are skipping, the spectators 
are clapping. Whoever is fortunate enough 
to have picked up the valuable article, may 
retain it as a favor. This must therefore 
have a duplicate, as the side couples have 
equal chances with the heads. 



TWO SKIPPING-ROPE GAMES. 

Take a skipping-rope whenever you go 
for a country frolic. One treat will be given 
through clover blossoms. Each player 
should gather enough of these sweet-scented 
flowers to make three fair-sized bouquets, 
when these are made, put them in a con- 
venient and cool place. 

Take turns turning the rope ; as soon as one 
girl is through skipping, she should exchange 
with one that has been turning. In that 
way nobody is tired. 

Enter the rope according to height, the 
shortest player should go first. As soon as 
the rope is in even motion, all the players 
excepting the one to skip, should say, *' One, 
two, three,'' the moment ''Three '' is said, 
whoever is to skip must enter or lose her 
turn. Should she trip before skipping eight 
times she must give her successor a bouquet, 
on the contrary, should she skip five times 
without a break, her successor must present 



Fun for the Household, 47 

her with a bouquet. No one may be al- 
lowed to skip more than fifteen times, as 
too much rope skipping is injurious. 

These rules must receive strict adherence. 
When all have had opportunity to skip three 
times, the game is finished. The winner 
is the one who has received the most bou- 
quets. 

Another game requires ten players, two 
turning and eight skipping. In this game 
those who turn cannot be relieved, but must 
turn until the game is concluded. 

This time the tallest player is the first to 
enter, the others stand according to height, 
one directly back of the other. As soon as 
the rope is in steady motion, the first player 
starts, skips once, runs out and around to a 
rock or tree previously decided on, where 
she is safe, the second immediately enters 
the rope, after the first one runs out, the 
point being for the second one to tag the 
first before she can reach her destination. 
The third player, however, enters the rope as 
the second has run out, and is trying just as 
hard to tag the second, as the second is to 
tag the first, and so on, each rapidly follow- 
ing the one before, and thus this game keeps 
steadily on until all have been through the 
rope three times. 

Whoever has been tagged is out of the 
game, and can no longer play ; this decides 
who are the winners. 

It now becomes the duty of all who have 



48 Fun for the Household. 

played, to gather quantities of clover or other 
field blossoms, enough to trim the rope from 
one end to the other. In this form the pretty- 
flowers are taken home, and used for din- 
ing-room decoration. Festoon the mantel, 
or wind it around the chandelier, allowing 
the ends to drop low towards the table. 

As only one person can have this rope of 
flowers, decide which one, by counting out. 

RUNNING FOR THE CAP. 

The boys must be equally divided ; one 
set is called catchers, the other runners, and 
these sets must stand fifty yards apart. The 
catcher's position is thirty yards from the 
post, and the runners' tw^enty. The call, 
one, two, three, is given, and on the second 
three is spoken one boy from each party 
runs to the post. The runner will naturally 
get there first, and he has to put the cap on 
his head, and then replace it. He must do 
this with the utmost rapidity, as, should the 
catcher overtake him on his way back to the 
position which he held before starting to run, 
the boy becomes the catcher's prisoner, and 
can no longer play. 



FIRE-ARCH DISCOUNT GAME. 

A strip of wood two inches thick, five 
inches wide, and one yard long will be re- 



Fun for the Household, 49 

quired. In this cut five arches, making the 
centre one four inches in width, the others 
three inches each ; stand it up on the floor 
or on a table, and make the starting-point 
six feet away. Four marbles may be rolled 
by each player. When a marble goes 
through the centre arch it counts sixty, but 
if, instead, it goes through either of the small 
arches, thirty is counted off. If a marble 
fails to pass through either, it is counted out 
of the game, and must be remoA^'ed. The 
next turn around, the player will use only 
three instead of four marbles. The boy who 
has the highest tally has won ; should there 
be a tie, they must roll again. 

This game requires practice, or some 
players will find that they have lost more 
than they have made. 



THE BAGATELLE BOARD COUNT GAME. 

Chalk a floor or mark a space in exact 
copy of a bagatelle-board ten feet long by 
three wide. In the inclosure, at correct dis- 
tances, mark the numbers ; this may be done 
with chalk, or the numbers may be painted 
on thin wooden blocks and laid in position. 
Each player must start his marble at the 
extreme left-hand corner, and state before 
starting the number he wishes to roll to. 
Should the marble go to that number, and 
not roll on so as to touch another, the player 
4 



50 Fun for the Household. 

counts the number selected, and can then 
state another number and play for that, and 
can so continue for seven minutes, provided 
his marble always hits the number selected, 
and though rolling on, does not touch or 
stop at any other. When his time is up his 
count is scored, and the next player follows, 
subject to the same rules. Should the 
marble stop on the number selected, it is 
counted double in favor of the player. 
Again, should the marble, having reached 
the selected number, still roll on and touch 
another, no count is allowed, and the player 
must stop until his turn comes again. 

FUNNY QUESTIONS WITH FUNNY ANSWERS. 

All the players stand in a circle and join 
hands. 

The tallest one in the room w^hispers a 
question to her right-hand neighbor, who 
answers her in a whisper, and then turns 
and asks Aer right-hand neighbor a question, 
who replies in like manner. When ques- 
tions and answers have all gone around, the 
party who commenced states aloud the 
question her /^/-hand neighbor asked, and 
the reply her nghZ-hand neighbor gave. 

Example : Suppose three players. 

First questions. 

Second answers, then turns and ask third. 

Third answers, and asks the first, who an- 
sw^ers. 



Fun for the Household. 5 1 

Then, questions and answers having gone 
all around, first says aloud, '' My left-hand 
neighbor asked, and my right-hand neighbor 
answered." 

First Player : What is the brightest idea 
this season ? 

Second Player : Your eye, dear (idea). 

How many blackbirds were baked in the 
pie ? 

Third Player : Four-and-twenty. What 
was the name of Goliath of Gath's grand- 
mother's straw bonnet maker ? 

First Player : Nobody knows. 

When all have played. 

First Player, aloud : The question asked 
me was, ** What was the name of Goliath of 
Gath's grandmother's straw bonnet maker ? " 
the answer was, ** Your eye, dear (idea)/' 

Second Player : The question asked me 
w^as, ''What is the brightest idea this 
season?" The answer was, ''Four-and- 
twenty ! " 

Third Player : The question asked was, 
"How many blackbirds were baked in 
the pie.?" The answer w^as, "Nobody 
knows." 

The one whose question has been most 
appropriately answered aloud, must be en- 
tertained by the others, as he desires — by 
dancing, playing a favorite game, by music, 
recitations or any other suggested amuse- 
ment. 



52 Fun for the Household, 

JUDGE AND JURY. 

Draw lots for a Judge and five Jurymen. 
Pass six numbered paper slips in a fancy 
bag. Whoever draws number one is Judge, 
and the others the Jury. All the other 
players take the name of a celebrated mu- 
sician or composer, as Beethoven, De Pach- 
mann, or Schubert, etc. 

The Judge now takes a seat at one end of 
the room. The Jurymen sit at one side in 
a row, and the rest of the people sit at a 
distance. The Judge calls one of the other 
players up to the bar and proceeds to ques- 
tion him or her. The prisoner is bound to 
answer any question the Judge may see fit 
to ask, and the business of the Jury is to 
decide the name of the musician the prisoner 
has assumed. 

Ten questions are all that may be asked. 
At the end of those the prisoner seats him- 
self and awaits the Jury's verdict. If the 
first decision of the Jury is incorrect, the 
prisoner is released. But if correct, the 
prisoner takes the place of one of the Jury- 
men, who must draw to determine which 
one is relieved. The ex-Juryman then takes 
his place among the waiting prisoners and 
assumes a character. 

After three trials the Judge must be a 
Juryman, and one of them must take his 
place. This, too, is decided by lot. 

By so doing all are on duty all the time, 



Fun for the Household, 53 

and the end of the game is when the play- 
ers are tired. 



THE CARD INTRODUCTION. 

When young people are not very well ac- 
quainted, play this game, and by the time 
that it is finished every one will think he 
must have known everybody else for the 
last seven years. 

Place chairs so as to form a ring, and ask 
your friends to be seated. Then have a pack 
of say, authors' cards in your hand, state 
that every one must say what you say, and 
give what you give to his left-hand neigh- 
bor. Then lifting up the top card in the 
pack, you say to your guest at your left, 
''Here's my card, Longfellow." The one 
who receives it instantly turns to the party 
at his left and, giving the card, repeats 
the same words, ''Here's my card, Long- 
fellow." The next card follows at once in 
the same manner, repeating whatever its 
portrait, may be, and so card follows 
card without a second's delay, and the 
laughter and fun that is made causes even 
the dullest person in the room to wake up 
and be hale fellow for the next entertain- 
ment. Should any card drop, let it go. 
There will not be enough time to pick it up 
until the game is ended. 



54 Fun for the Household, 

HARMONY SOLOISTS. 

One of the young men must represent the 
Lord of Misrule, and in fantastic attire he 
goes from one to the other of the guests and 
asks each to draw one slip of paper from the 
basket which he carries. 

On each slip are written four lines of any- 
popular or well-known song. Each slip 
contains a different song. 

As soon as the papers are drawn five of 
the people stand up in a line, and with the 
Lord of Misrule as director they each sing 
separately their particular four lines to the 
correct tune. When each of the five have 
sung, all sing together as chorus, each care- 
fully keeping his own words and music. 

Then another five, and then another, until 
all have sung. Then for a grand finale, all 
the guests stand as chorus and in duets, 
trios, quartettes sing the one stanza through, 
all joining in the refrain each time. 

The harmony will be remarkable. 

JIG-I-TY JIG. 

Chairs are placed to form a circle, and all 
the players excepting two occupy the chairs. 

One of the two players must play a polka 
or waltz. The other one stands outside of 
the circle. 

The one standing outside dances as soon 



Fun for the Household, 55 

as the music starts, and continues dancing 
as long as she pleases, but all of a sudden 
she stops a second before a chair, and then 
dances up to the chair. Whoever occupies 
it instantly rises and dances back to her, 
and after a while the first dancer waves a 
backward movement of the hand toward 
her friend, thus indicating she is not wanted 
to continue dancing. But she must walk or 
waltz back to her chair and then sit down. 

The first dancer continues dancing, how- 
ever, and goes to another party in precisely 
the same way as she did to the first, and 
when she concludes she has the right one, 
she dances to that party's seat and takes it. 

The individual then on the floor continues 
dancing, as did the first one. When she sits 
down a third party dances, and so on until 
all have danced. 

If any of the company do not dance, they 
should make a feint of doing so. If the 
individual is full of fun, much amusement 
is created. 

CIRCLE GAME. 

Make a target of brown wrapping-paper, 
and put the number 100 on the buirs eye. 
Outside of this mark five rings, making the 
largest one two feet in diameter, the others 
proportionately smaller. Inside of these 
rings put the numbers 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, the 
centre as stated being 100. Mark out a 



56 Fun for the Household. 

space on the ground for a base five feet 
away ; place the target on the ground, 
blindfold a player, lead him to the base, 
and turn him around twice, and leave him 
facing the target. He is now entitled to roll 
three marbles, and then remove the blind- 
fold. His count will be the added numbers 
in the rings at which his marbles have 
stopped. Should any of them stop on a 
line, he is entitled to the largest number 
adjoining. No marbles must be moved, 
and each boy has the privilege of trying the 
ground once with each marble, before being 
blindfolded. 



THE HUNT FOR THE KEYHOLE. 

A tall boy should put on the skirt of a 
lady's dress. This skirt should just escape 
the floor. In his hands he should carry 
a broom, with the broom end held directly 
above him, and the broom handle held 
close in front of him. 

A ball to simulate a person's head should 
be secured by strong twine to the broom. 
This ball should have a false face securely 
fastened to the front of it, while, as a cover 
for the rest of the ball there should be a 
lady's bonnet. This bonnet cannot be too 
grotesquely trimmed. Long plumes, bril- 
liant flowers, natural or artificial, sun- 
flowers, hollyhocks, cucumber blossoms. 



Ftin for the Household, 57 

etc. , would be correct decoration. The bon-; 
net should be tied underneath the false face,, 
being careful to have the bow ends volu- 
minous and the streamers long. The ribbori 
should be vivid scarlet, or bright orange 
color. ' 

Just below the bonnet and around thei 
broom fasten a cloak, the bottom of which: 
should reach beyond the boy's waist; in thi.^i 
way the boy and the broom are entirely con- 
cealed. 

The company should be asked to take 
seats at the rear end of the room, then an- 
nounce that they are to be entertained ty 
the pantomime entitled ''The Hunt for the 
Keyhole." 

Then the door should be opened, and at 
once a tall, odd-looking individual enters. 
His appearance creates roars of laughter, as 
also his ridiculous actions when having 
bowed to the audience he turns to the door 
though which he has come and commences 
his search. The effect is ridiculous, as the 
head is bobbed around in every direction 
whichever way the boy chooses to turn, as 
also whichever way he chooses to move the 
broom. When enough amusement has been 
gotten, the boy again bows and comically 
waltzes out of the room. 

The boy will need an assistant to dress, 
andthis game should be privately practised 
before showing it to an audience. 



58 Fun for the Household. 

ACTING PROVERBS 

\ This is played by one of the party leaving" 
Ihe room, and on his i;eturn acting in such a 
manner as to indicate to the others a well- 
/Icnown proverb. Example, *' A rolling stone 
.gathers no moss," may be indicated by the 
one having left the room returning with a 
round stone in his hand and rolling it on the 
|loor. 

( GOSSIP. 

' This title suggests an amusing tableau 
vivant for an evening at home. 

"Two girls should withdraw and put over 
their pretty dresses queer-looking old shawls, 
and cover their curls with odd-looking bon- 
nets tied under the chin. 

They should sit very close together, and 
with cups of tea in their hands gaze intently 
at each other, busily stirring the while. 
They must nod their heads as though one 
were telling a bit of scandal. 

Suddenly one exclaims in a high-pitched 
voice, '*You don't say so !" whereupon the 
hostess should inquire, *^ Who can tell what 
these girls represent 1 " 

A number of the company will naturally 
reply, ''Gossip." 

THE FLORIST. 

Whoever assumes this character should 
explain that he has flowers for sale, and that 



Fun for the Household. 59 

he will try and sell all that he has by put- 
ting questions to the persons whom he 
thinks will buy, and that whoever in answer- 
ing his questions uses the ^ox^^ flowers, yes, 
or no would have to pay a forfeit, and that 
he will try all that he can to get them to use 
one of the prohibited words. 

Then the Florist should turn to one of the 
players and ask, ''Can I sell you any fresh 
flowers to-day ? " 

'*I am fully supplied, thank you/' And 
addressing another, ''Do buy my sweet 
violets." 

"Not to-day, sir/' 

" How about carnations ? " 

"I don't wish flowers of any kind/' 

And in that way a forfeit is incurred. 

The questions should be rapidly asked, 
and as rapidly answered, or the players will 
not get caught. 

MY lady's reception APPAREL. 

One of the players should act the part of 
lady's maid. Each of the players should 
take the name of something which a lady 
would wear to a reception, as an article of 
clothing or jewelry. Or a player may take 
the name of an article a lady would use in 
getting ready for a reception, as a comb and 
brush. 

The lady's maid should stand at one end 
of the room, and looking towards the play- 



6o Fun for the Household, 

ers announce, ^*My lady is going to a re- 
ception to-night, and wishes a handker- 
chief," or whatever article she may choose 
to select. The one named instantly rises, 
and steps two feet forward, makes a low 
bow, then suddenly starting up twists 
about, and turning to her right-hand neigh- 
bor says, "- Change chairs/' 

No sooner said than done. Everybody 
on the instant rushes for a chair, including 
the lady's maid, and the one that is left 
without a chair becomes the next lady's 
maid. 

This person may continue the game, as 
did the previous maid, or she may say, 
''My lady is going to a reception to-night 
and wants her salts. " 

The moment salts are desired some of the 
players must sneeze as if the salts were too 
strong, others should appear to faint, and 
others wave their hands forward and back 
as if fanning. 

Any second that the lady's maid may 
choose she may exclaim, ''Change chairs ! '' 
and again there is another scramble, with 
one person left without, and there is there- 
fore a new lady's maid. 

This maid may try yet another way, which 
will result in getting almost all of the play- 
ers on their feet before they can change 
chairs. She asks the players to re-name 
themselves, and for nearly all of them to 
select articles of apparel. 



Fun for the Household, 6 1 

Then the maid says, for instance, ^'My 
lady desires her white ivory fan." 

The person so named should rise, go two 
feet forward and, having bowed very low, 
should stand just where she is until the 
signal for change chairs is given. 

The maid might then say, ''My lady 
desires her white satin gown.'' The person 
named white satin gown rises, and repeats 
the action of the one going before. And thus 
the maid continues to call, until having all 
the requisite articles of apparel. But when 
she exclaims, '' My lady wishes her white 
kid shoes ! '' all rush for a seat. 

Whoever is left without a chair after this 
method of playing must rapidly tell the boot- 
black story. 

''As I was going down the street I saw 
two bootblacks. One was a black bootblack 
and the other a white bootblack, and both 
had black boots, as well as blacking and 
blacking brushes. The black bootblack 
asked the white bootblack to black his, the 
black bootblack's black boot with blacking. 
The white bootblack consented to black 
the black boots of the black bootblack with 
blacking, but when he, the white bootblack 
had blacked one black boot of the black boot- 
black with blacking, he the white bootblack 
refused to black his, the black bootblack's, 
other black boot with blacking unless he, 
the black bootblack, paid him, the white 
bootblack, the same as what he, the white 



62 Fun for the Household, 

bootblack, got for blacking- other people's 
black boots ; whereupon, the black bootblack 
grew still blacker in the face, and called the 
white bootblack a blackguard, at the same 
time hitting the white bootblack with the 
black boot that he, the white bootblack, had 
already blacked with blacking." 

Should any one not leave his chair he must 
pay a forfeit. 

Should the maid ask for an article that has 
not been taken for a name, she must pay a 
forfeit. 

THIMBLE GAME. 

In order to be enjoyable this game re- 
quires several players, and it is better that 
they should be both boys and girls, as it then 
has the added element of a match between 
the boys and girls. 

Put a silver or gold thimble in full view, 
in any convenient room, into which your 
friends have not yet entered. It makes the 
game more difficult if this room is well filled 
w^ith bric-a-brac , hangings, pictures, plants, 
etc., for the reason that the eye is confused 
with so much ornament and therefore can- 
not so easily detect such a small thing as a 
thimble. 

State clearly the following directions be- 
fore your friends enter. No one can touch 
anything. Each player must stand until he 
sees the thimble. Every one may walk 



Fun for the Household. 63 

about as much as he pleases, but talking is 
prohibited. Having seen the thimble, im- 
mediately sit down. It is a point of honor 
that no player will give information. When 
all are seated the game is finished. 

Of course the girls want to ^^\ ahead of 
the boySj and the boys ahead of the girls, 
in locating the thimble. Therefore if a 
boy sits down first, the girls are sorry ; 
and if a boy sits down last, the boys are 
sorry. 

The one who first sits down is the one to 
receive honor, and he has the privilege of 
selecting the next game as well as deciding 
on the forfeit to be given by the boy or girl 
who has been the last to sit down. Some- 
times the hostess gives the thimble to the 
one winning the game. 

Players must be very cautious, or their 
eyes will tell what their tongues would not ; 
therefore, having seen the thimble, at once 
glance in another direction, and you will 
thus mystify where you w^ould otherwise 
assist. 

THE TOUCH GAME. 

This requires an assistant to whom the 
secret of the game is intrusted. The assist- 
ant leaves the room, the other party remains 
with the company, and states that during the 
assistant's absence she will put her hand on 
some object, person, or thing, and when the 



64 Fun for the Household, 

assistant returns he will tell what has been 
touched. 

The assistant now being out, the piano 
stool is touched. On the assistant s return 
he is asked, '' What did I touch? " at once 
he replies, **The piano stool." 
I Of course this causes great surprise and 
the assistant is asked to go out again, the 
company expecting, perhaps, to be able to 
guess this time. For a change a girl is 
touched, and on the assistant's return he 
is asked, *'Whom did I touch.?" and he 
promptly says, ''Bessie Brown," or what- 
ever the girl's name. 

Then the players think there must be some 
look or gesture given to aid the assistant 
when he re-enters, and so they are given the 
privilege of blindfolding him before his re- 
turn, but all in vain, the assistant is as cor- 
rect as before and no one is able to guess. 

Then the company beg : ''Do tell us the 
secret." So when all give up they are told 
that just before the assistant leaves the room, 
the other player secretly touches some per- 
son or thing, or perhaps indicates what the 
object is with his foot or perhaps sits on it, 
if it be a chair or stool. Occasionally, to 
further mystify, it would be well to simply 
fold one s arms. This would signify to the 
confederate, " I am touching myself." 
Therefore the assistant, whether blindfolded 
or not, can answer correctly, because he 
has received his clue before he went out. 



Fun for the Household, 65 

Of course, this game requires an intelli- 
gent assistant ; indeed, both players must 
be very careful, as so many eyes are on the 
constant lookout. 

This will be found a satisfactory game 
for a rainy afternoon in a summer hotel, 
when the grown people are taking naps and 
there seems absolutely nothing left for 
young people to do, and they are tired 
watching the w^eather, and saying, ''If it 
would only clear ! '' 



THE CONCERT. 

Select a conductor. All others sit before 
him in a semicircle, and each is given an 
imaginary musical instrument. 

The conductor next directs them to tune 
their instruments, after which, taking a cane 
he waves it, as if it were a baton. He also 
whistles or hums a gay, familiar air. In this 
all join, imitating by voice and gesture the 
instruments they are supposed to be playing 
on, such as the flute, the harp, the hand- 
organ, the cymbals, violin, cornet, etc. 

Suddenly he waves his baton and the 
music ceases. 

The conductor then calls for solos. All 
the musicians give close attention, and the 
conductor makes believe he is playing, thus 
indicating which instrument he wishes to 
hear. 



66 Fun for the Household. 

The player having that instrument must 
at once obey, imitating both sound and 
gestures. Should he fail, he must pay a 
forfeit. 

A CURIOUS CAT. 

This is a trick to be played only where 
the people know each other very well. 

A tall screen is required, a cat, a saucer 
of milk, a table and a showman. 

The showman is the most important, for 
on his ready wit and tactful manner the 
success of the trick depends. 

He stands by the screen and says to the 
audience. 

Come behind this screen and you will see 

A cat with her head where her tail ought to be. 

One by one, the guests may go, and each 
must observe a discreet silence, so that the 
rest may not guess what the trick is. 

As each goes behind the screen, a table is 
seen on which is a cat with her tail towards 
a saucer of milk, where, were it not for the 
showman's efforts, her head would naturally 
be. This foolish trick will always cause a 
hearty laugh. 

A BOAT RACE. 

Girls who do not care to row should act 
as umpires. A grand stand may be a mas- 



Fun for the Household, 67 

sive rock ornamented with a tangle of vines 
and for a canopy a wide-branched tree. 

There should be three races, one between 
the girls another between the boys, and a 
third between the girls and boys together. 
Two large willows or other trees, conspicu- 
ously overhanging the water, and therefore 
impossible to mistake, should be selected 
as the points to start and end the race, the 
prow of the boat should be even with the 
centre of the tree trunk at starting, and the 
stern of the boat should be even with the 
centre of the tree trunk on closing. Only 
one person should be in the boat at a time, 
and no person can have a second chance. 

As the water is frequently too narrow for 
all boats to be out at once, it is wiser to try 
two boats at a time, and then two more 
should row and so on. After the race is 
over the victors must row again, two and 
two, as at the first, and so determine the 
winners. When the winning girl and the 
winning boy are known, they should 
race together, and thus the champion rower 
will be discovered. Whoever is champion 
should be rewarded with a wreath of laurel, 
after the fashion of the great Roman victors ; 
if laurel cannot be found, use oak leaves 
and tell the hero they are meant for laurel. 
The wreath must be made and at the grand 
stand before the race opens. The coronation 
should take place at the stand. 

While gathering the leaves for the crown 



68 Fun for the HotiseJiold, 

it would prove a pleasure to gather quantities 
of wild flowers, with which to decorate the 
boats. A simple and pretty trimming would 
be to carpet the boat with moss and edge 
it around with fern leaves. Another way 
would be to canopy a boat with apple 
blossoms ; the branches are easily held in 
place between the narrow strip of wood 
that forms the border, and the boat itself. 
But a canopy retards motion, and the rowers 
must consider speed before they decide on 
decoration. 



THREE LITTLE MAIDS FROM SCHOOL. 

Three tall boys should dress as prima 
donnas, carry bouquets, and sing the popu- 
lar song, *^ Three Little Maids from School 
are we.'' 

After this they should appear as giants 
and perform a variety of tricks. 

For example : Hold an umbrella over 
their heads, which is covered with a long 
cloak. To the top of the umbrella-stick 
fasten a ball the size of a person's head, 
on to this ball put a round hat, and a veil so 
. as to conceal the face. Thus the boys will 
be of gigantic size, and their very appear- 
ance will provoke laughter. 

After bowing to their friends, they should 
dance a few reel figures, then walk about 
the room and examine the chandeliers, tops 



Fun for the Household, 69 

of the pictures or frescoing. Then play 
^**Puss in the corner." When they repeat 
*'Puss, Puss, Puss," they should use unnat- 
ural tones. 

It is very funny, and those who are not 
** little maids" will have almost as much 
sport as if they were. 



THE WAR OF THE ROSES. 

This is a pretty, interesting and instruc- 
tive game, as those engaged in it and not 
familiar w^ith the period of history to which 
it refers may be led to study it, and the 
knowledge received through playing may 
thus prove beneficial. 

It is particularly suited to out-of-door 
amusement, though it may be played in- 
doors by making a field of battle. This 
could be done by putting a rug in the centre 
of a room, and stating, that rug represents 
the battlefield of Saint Albans, or the battle- 
field of Towton, or you may have both 
battles, should you so prefer. 

When played out of doors, mark out a 
piece of lawn in the same way that a tennis 
court is marked. Or, should there be no 
lawn, mark an oblong on the ground by 
means of a sharp-pointed stick. 

The battle-field should be five feet one 
way, and three the other. 

Choose two of the largest boys for leaders ; 



70 Fun for the Household. 

one of them will personate Richard the 
Duke of York, the other the nearest relative 
of the house of Lancaster, who was the 
Duke of Somerset. 

Then in turn, commencing with the Duke 
of York, the boys will call their soldiers, 
which may be (as this is a game) girls as 
well as boys. As each one's name is called, 
he stands in line on the side of his leader. 
When all are chosen, the Duke of York 
gives his soldiers, as also himself, the 
symbol of the Yorkists, which was a white 
rose, and in like manner the Lancastrians 
receive their symbol, which was a red 
one. 

Commencing at the foot of the line, the 
Duke of York will blindfold his soldier, and 
lead him around for one minute, thus con- 
fusing him as to location ; but when he stops 
leading him, he must be six feet from the 
battlefield, and his face so turned as to 
make it possible to reach it. Then the 
leader calls one, two, three, and at once the 
soldier throws his rose. The blindfold is 
then removed, and he will see how near the 
field his charge has reached. 

It is now the turn of the house of Lancas- 
ter, and the Duke of Somerset will blind- 
fold the soldier at the end of his line, and 
thus the game proceeds as before. When 
every one has played, the roses on the bat- 
tlefield are counted. Whichever side has on 
the most roses has won. Then all the 



Fun for the Household, yi 

roses are picked up and presented to the 
victors by the losing side. Each one of the 
winners then adorns himself with a red and 
white rose. 

No rose can be counted on the battlefield, 
unless every part of it is on, including the 
stem and foliage. 

There must be an even number of play- 
ers. 

UNBAR. 

Every player excepting the boy known 
as Bear, must twist and knot his handker- 
chief. The Bear selects a tree as a start- 
ing point, and states his object will be to tag 
the others. Whoever is tagged becomes a 
Bear, and must return to the tree, pursued 
and beaten all the way back with the knot- 
ted handkerchiefs. The two Bears then 
join hands, and, starting out, try to tag every 
one that is possible, and this action is re- 
peated until all the players are Bears. 
Whenever the chain of Bears is broken, as 
it sometimes is by an attack from the rear, 
the Bears again return to the tree. 



BIRD TEST. 

Give each player a slip of paper on which 
he must write the birds' names. Also the 



"J 2 Fun for the Household, 

number of times the word bird and birds' 
names occur. 

The correct number to find is seventy-six. 

Time allowed is six minutes. 

The slip should be headed Bird Test. 

One day while walking along a grassy 
lane conspicuously edged with blackberry 
bushes, my attention was riveted by the 
song of a bird, a sort of up and down war- 
ble, and in the branches of a maple tree 
near, I saw a red-eyed viero, and not far off, 
quietly looking towards the singer, was 
such a pretty warbler, another greenlet, the 
white-eyed viero. 

Listening to the red-eye, the viero's war- 
ble grew less and less distinct as the dis- 
tance lengthened between us. The warbler 
warbled the same sweet song, but my ear 
was less able to catch the warbhng warbler s 
notes, and soon the greenlet, the viero, the 
musical, silver-tongued warbler, warbled for 
me all in vain. 

But as I walked I thought how rarely that 
we meet people who are indifferent to birds, 
and how desolate our lanes, woods and gar- 
dens would be without them. And how 
much beauty is added to bushes, flowers, and 
trees, if a singing bird rests on them long 
enough for us to listen to his song. And 
then I named over some favorite birds. The 
meadow lark, blue jay, Carolina wren, wood 
thrush, robin, swallow. But suddenly I 
heard '' Me-au, me-au/' as if a cat was near. 



Fun for the Household, 73 

I stood just where I was, to discover the 
creature. My thought of birds gave a 
thought of protection. A moment later and 
I laughed aloud, for flying over my head was 
the jolly song-bird, called cat-bird, who has 
a bad habit of mewing. But the sunshine 
seemed pleasant company for him ; for 
watching the cat-bird's movements I saw 
him alight on a tree close by, and with a 
hop and a skip go from limb to limb. 

Whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will,. and again 
on the alert, my eyes were almost strained, 
this time in effort to follow the sad cry, look- 
ing everywhere for whip-poor-will. When 
what a pleasant surprise, to learn that whip- 
poor-will was none other than the brilliantly 
colored mocking bird, whose fancy had dic- 
tated the whip-poor-wilFs melancholy notes 
and now whizzed close to me, to nestle on 
the blackberry blossoms a few steps beyond. 

Then walking on I thought of the many 
birds about us, the brown thrasher, and 
white-throated sparrow, the tree sparrow, 
the bank and barn swallows, and the socia- 
ble sparrow, dear little chippy, and of what 
I had read about fly-catchers and veerys, 
and the crested titmouse who gleefully 
shouts in the wildest winds, ^'T' sweet 
here ! t' sweet here ! " 

My walk by this time was hurried into a 
run, and I caught my foot into some poor 
bird's nest that was hidden in the long grass, 
and I almost fell, but being glad I had not 



74 F^^'^^ for the Households 

tripped over a rut-runner, I thought of the 
quotation, ** Runs like the kill-deer up the 
rut," and a warbler near sang so cheerily that 
I forgot my accident and soon reached the 
creek towards which I was hastening. 
When who should come first to greet me but 
a yellow-billed cuckoo. And thus m)'' mind 
dwelt on other birds that liked creeks and 
lakes, such as the kingfisher, and on the in- 
stant I heard the report of a gun, and sure 
enough one of these birds had just been shot. 
I knew this because of the excitement of a 
group of gunners. 

Poor bird ! How many birds' lives end in 
a similar way. The cardinal grosbeak and 
the myrtle bird, a greenlet in color, we 
fancy myrtle suggests greenlet, the snow- 
buntings, horned larks, golden-crowned 
kinglet and vesper sparrows, the red-polls 
and crossbills, the plovers, the golden 
herons, night-herons, sandpipers, coots, 
hawks, geese, and swans, — all are marks for 
the hunter. 

And then I thought. Oh, if I could fly over 
this clapper-rail ahead of me ! It is so very 
stupid to keep my feet on the earth. How 
jolly to flap my wings to the Lapland long- 
spur. I would visit the raven and all 
the rest of the feathered family on the 
way. 

But my walk had ended and such a pretty 
warbler warmly welcomed me home, — my 
golden-hued, night-singing canary. 



Fun for the Household. 75 

PARLOR FORTUNE-TELLING. 

This amusement is sure to interest, and 
may be played by any number of people, 
the more the merrier. 

Those to have their fortune told should 
have a slip of paper and a pencil. The one 
telling the fortune dictates from the book 
what to write. After all the answers are 
written, the fortune-teller reads the questions, 
and the players in turn read the answers 
aloud, according- to what they have written. 
Suppose the following fortune : 

1. Have you a favorite .^^ Yes. 

2. What is her name.? A girl's name. 

3. What color is her hair.? A color. 

4. What color are her eyes } A color. 

5. Does she wear spectacles.? Yes or no. 

6. How old is she.? A number. 

7. How tall is she.? A number of feet. 

8. Is she pretty .? Yes or no, 

9. How many teeth has she .? A number. 

10. How much money has she.? An 
amount of dollars. 

11. What shape is her mouth .? A shape. 

12. What shape is her nose.? A shape. 

13. How large is her hand.? A number 
of inches. 

14. How large are her feet.? A number 
of inches. 

15. Is she fond of music ? Yes or no. 

16. What is her favorite book.? The 
name of a book. 



76 Fun for the Household. 

17. Does she dance ? Yes or no. 

18. Can she sing? Yes or no. 

19. Does she recite .? Yes or no. 

20. What can she cook best.? Mention 
an article of diet. 

21. Does she use a chafing dish.? Yes or 
no. 

22. Can she make her own hats.? Yes or 
no. 

23. What is her greatest virtue .? A virtue. 

24. What is her greatest fault ? A fault. 

25. Where does she live .? A city. 

26. In a handsome house .? Yes or no. 

27. Does she ride a bicycle .? Yes or no. 

28. Are you glad you are acquainted with 
her. Yes or no. 

29. Does she like you .? Yes or no. 

30. Will her father give her a mafriage 
dowry.? Yes or no. 

31. How many dollars.? An amount of 
money. 

32. Where will you be married .? A place. 

33. Will you be a model husband.? Yes 
or no. 

34. How many dollars a year will you 
give her for housekeeping purposes ? An 
amount of money. 

35. Where will you live.? A city. 

36. Will you entertain much.? Yes or 
no. 

37. Will you travel.? Yes or no. 

38. What city will you first visit .? A 
city. 



Fun for the Household, jy 

39. How long will you remain there ? A 
period of time. 

40. When will you return home ? A period 
of time. 

41. Will your home be happy.? Yes or 
no. 

42. Would you be sorry if you were never 
married .? Yes or no. 

43. Next to yourself, whom do you like 
best? A girl's name. 

44. Will your wife be jealous .? Yes or 
no. 

45. Will your wife lecture } Yes or no. 

46. What is she doing now .? Describe a 
motion. 

47. What would you like her to do } De- 
scribe a motion. 

48. What is your highest ambition } A 
state of being. 

49. Will your life be crowned with suc- 
cess .? Yes or no. 

Many of the games with which we are 
familiar in the United States are well known 
throughout Great Britain and on the Conti- 
nent. But among the most amusing and 
most popular of English games is one of 
which we know little or nothing. It is dig- 
nified by the two-lettered name, *'It." 

This is altogether suitable for the parlor, 
and may be played by everybody if we will 



78 Fun for the Household, 

except the very young people. It creates 
roars of laughter, on account of the funny 
mistakes made by the questioners. ''It'' 
is a great mystery, and the longer it is played 
the greater mystery often it becomes. Only 
those understanding this game may remain 
in the room. All others must leave ; there 
is no alternative. One of the party, un- 
familiar with the game, is then selected to 
return, and must, by questioning those in 
the parlor, learn what ''it" is. When he 
knows "it," he too must remain behind, 
and some one else is selected to fill his 
place. In this way the game is carried on, 
until each one in turn comes in and finds out 
the secret. 

"It" is really the person who sits at your 
left, but, before this is discovered, usually 
much amusement is made. The game is 
played in the following way : 

All in the parlor must sit in a circle, and 
must not change their positions. When the 
player is called in, he is told to ask a ques- 
tion of whomsoever he may please, and the 
person must correctly answer. For ex- 
ample — "Is ^W white?" As everybody 
present is white, the answ^er is necessarily 
"Yes." 

The questioner then asks another person. 
"Is ' it ' thin ? " and if the person thus ques- 
tioned is thin, the answer is again, "Yes." 
Perhaps this question may be repeated, and 
some one else is asked, " Do you also think 



Fun for the Household. 79 

'it' is thin ?" and if this person has some- 
one for a left-hand neighbor who is very 
stout, of course he answers, *' No/' 

And thus the questioner is mystified, and 
must continue question after question. For 
a long" time he may think ''it" is a thing. 
Therefore a good question to put would be, 
''Is 'it' alive? And then he might ask, 
*' Is ' it ' in this room ? " Then he might try 
complexion, and again would be mystified, 
for if he asked, "Is 'it 'a brunette?" and 
the reply being "Yes," his next question, 
" Has ' it ' dark eyes ? " would perhaps have 
for answer, "No," and, "Has 'it* light 
hair?'" "Yes." And so the secret seems 
harder than ever. 

A good way is to ask the same questions 
over and over, and try to locate " it " in that 
way. But the questioner should not easily 
be discouraged. A few points may be given 
to him, such as some of the above. The 
players would better announce "It" as a 
trick game. 

THE CENT HUNT. 

Say that a cent is wrapped in tissue-paper 
and is within sight. The discoverer quietly 
tells you, and if he is correct, reward 
him. 

Afterwards give a cent, pencil and paper 
to everybody, and state five minutes are al- 
lowed to write what each side of the cent 



8o Fun for the Household. 

will tell. This game is called, A Penny for 
your Thoughts. 

'^ Find on one side : A beverage— T. A 
messenger — one c(s)ent. A piece of armor 
— shield. A symbol of victory — wreath. A 
weapon — arrow. A mode of punishment — 
stripes. A gallant — bow. A sheet of water 
— C. 

'' Find on the other side : A portion of a 
hill — brow. A place of worship — temple. 
An animal — hare. Youth and old age — 1 8 — 
96. One way of expressing marriage — U. S. 
A cultivated flower — tulip. An emblem of 
royalty — crown. Fruit — date. 



A FAGOT PARTY. 

This is a very entertaining amusement 
and suitable for all ages. 

As the word fagot means a bundle of 
twigs, it suggests an open fire. Therefore 
home and hearth are indispensable environ- 
ment. 

There should be just as many twigs as 
there are girls and boys. The idea being 
that each should draw a twig from the bun- 
dle as his name is called. And they are 
called by the hostess according to the letters 
of the alphabet. Whosever name therefore 
commences with A, should draw the first 
twig. Having drawn the twig, A puts it on 
the open fire and at once commences to tell 



Ficn for the Household, 8i 

a story. As long as the twig lasts, A must 
continue to talk, but when it is burned he 
must stop, and as twigs are apt to burn 
very rapidly when toward the end, the story 
is not infrequently wound up in a jiffy. As 
soon as A has finished, the next name is 
called and that person does exactly as did 
the first one, only he must tell a different 
story. And so on until everybody has taken 
his turn. 

THE HUNTER. 

This very lively game is played by both 
boys and girls, and the more, of course, the 
merrier. The hunter must be a boy, and to 
decide which boy, it is best to count out. 
Use for counting the old rhyme. 

Ana, mana, mona, mike, 

Bassa, lona, bona, strike, 

Hare, ware, frown, stack, 

Halloka, balloka, wee, woe, why, whack. 

Whoever is fortunate enough to have the 
word ''whack'' counted to him is out, and 
then the rhyme must be repeated over and 
over, and finally the hunter is left. It now 
becomes his duty to name the rest of the 
company as his equipments as sportsman, 
and also as his game ; for example, pointer, 
setter — two species of hunting dogs — and 
shot, belt, powder, gun, powder-flask, rifle, 
6 



82 Fun for the Household. 

cartridge, rabbit, squirrel, partridge, king- 
fisher, etc., etc. 

Put two rows of chairs back to back. 
There should be one chair less than there 
are players. This done, each one of the 
company except the hunter takes a chair. 
The hunter, standing before the rest of the 
players, then sings, to the tune of '' I Love 
a Sixpence," 

I am a hunter, a jolly, jolly hunter; 
I love hunting as I love my life. 

This he may sing over as many times as he 
likes, but finally stops short in the middle or 
anywhere, and immediately calls out a name 
— for instance, ** Shot." The person bearing 
this name must at once rise, and hurrying 
towards the hunter, must take hold of the 
back of his coat or jacket. Then the hunter 
continues his song, and calls for each one, 
until all are behind him, each holding firmly 
to the one in front. When all are in place, 
the hunter starts running, all of the party 
following and holding tightly together. He 
may run around the chairs or wherever he 
pleases, provided he keeps in the room. For 
fully two minutes this must keep up, when 
suddenly he will call, ''Bang ! "and instantly 
sit on one of the chairs. Of course there is 
a great scramble for every one to do like- 
wise, but as one chair is short, some one is 
necessarily left out, and this person now be- 
comes the hunter. 



Fun for the Household. 83 

The game now continues as before, or it 
may be varied by the hunter having to find 
something hidden. 

Any object may be placed out of sight in 
the room, and when the hunter nears it, the 
company may aid him by the usual words, 
''warm, warmer, hot," or ''cool, very cold, 
freezing, zero, below zero,'' etc. If he finds 
it within five minutes, he may choose 
another hunter, but if not he must pay a 
forfeit, to be determined by the rest of the 
players. 

Or the game may be played in a similar 
way by the use of nautical instead of hunt- 
ing terms. Should this be preferred, the 
hunter becomes the captain, and instead of 
singing to his company he may blow a few 
blasts on a horn. He is supposed to be on 
shipboard, so he must have ship equipment, 
crew, officers, passengers, cargo. Again the 
players must be named, only this time call 
them lifeboat, rope, anchor, sailor, steward, 
-captain's boy, purser, first-mate, doctor, etc. 



FIVE. 

Select a boy and hand him a knotted 
handkerchief. He must throw the handker- 
chief at a player, and before he can count 
aloud five the person to whom it is thrown 
must mention a round thing, such as an 
apple, a globe. If that person fails, he must 



84 Fun for the Household. 

change places with the one who has caught 
him, and throw the handkerchief at another. 
As no repetitions are allowed it will soon 
be difficult to find an object that is round. 



BREAKFAST. 

Every player is seated. Turn to the 
person at your right and ask, ''Will you 
come to breakfast 1 " To which the answer 
is ''Yes." When that question and answer 
have gone around the room, the first one 
must ask, "What would you like for break- 
fast .? " Perhaps the reply would be, " Milk ; '' 
and he then puts the question to his right- 
hand neighbor, who perhaps would say 
" Oatmeal," and so on, until no sensible an- 
swer can be made, for no repetitions can 
occur in this game also. As the different 
players fail to respond they must stand. 



ALPHABET. 

Give any letter of the alphabet — for ex- 
ample, S — to the company, also some paper 
and pencils. In five minutes' time they 
should write the names of three celebrated 
men, and also three sensible sentences, one 
for each man's name, as, Shakespeare was 
born in Stratford on the Avon. Forfeits are 
required for failures. 



Fmh for the Household, 85 

NINETY-NINE. 

Cut an equi-triangle out of soft wood or 
cardboard. It should measure one foot 
each way, and be one-quarter of an inch or 
less m thickness. Besides the triangle you 
will require white celluloid chips, or the 
game may be played with large-sized white 
bone buttons. 

Lay the triangle on a smooth-surfaced 
table, play in turn, and each player should 
start at the place. All players must be 
close enough to the table to watch the game. 
The point of the game is to make a count 
of ninety-nine. Whoever first makes that 
number has won. 

The triangle must be placed far enough 
from the table's edge to allow freedom of 
room all around it, and it should be kept 
lirm. 

Put a chip or button with its upper edge 
even with the angle from which you start, 
and just close enough to make it possible 
for it to slide and not receive hindrance. 
The chip should touch the entire sliding 
length. When all is in correct position, rest 
the knuckle of the right thumb (unless you 
are left-handed, in that case your left thumb) 
on the table, and put the back of the nail of 
your second finger about half an inch down 
on the inside of the thumb's fore-joint. 
Then push the finger suddenly outward, 
running its nail along the table, close to the 



86 Fun for the Household. 

thumb's point, and finally raising the finger 
so that its tip is on the table at the exact 
moment that it has touched the chip. This 
should result in sending the chip the entire 
length of the angle's side. To make a full 
count the chip must stop with its outer edge 
even with the next angle ; the entire chip, 
with the exception of the edge, being below 
it. When this done, score three, and do 
the same thing with the next side, you then 
score three more ; and again with the third 
side, making a count of nine in all. Having 
gone around three sides, stop until your 
turn is reached again. If however, the 
chip is not even with the angle, but has not 
gone entirely beyond it, the player may 
count one, and may continue playing, the 
same as if making a full count. But should 
the chip slide entirely beyond the angle, he 
cannot count at all, but must withdraw until 
his turn comes again. 

He must not be discouraged, however, 
but remember that ''He laughs best who 
laughs last. " Very often those who start suc- 
cessfully, become too self-conscious, and 
make a bad break towards the close of the 
game. 

Every time your turn comes, therefore be 
as careful as if just commencing. Even 
numbers are not counted, make one or three, 
To be entitled to three you must be perfect; 
short of perfection the count is one or noth- 
ing, as the above rules decree. 



Fun for the HoMse]iold, 87 

THE DAILY PAPER. 

This game is suitable for either girls or 
boys, and furnishes amusement at almost 
any age. The interest will be increased or 
diminished, according to individual careful- 
ness, for no one need be caught if they give 
close attention. Therefore, to be often 
caught indicates lack of interest, which is 
not complimentary to your leader, or stupid- 
ity, which is not complimentary to yourself. 

Every player assumes the character of a 
business man or woman, or they may have 
a profession. They may be manufacturers 
or tradespeople, it matters little what, pro- 
vided there be no duplicates. Choose one 
for your leader who will assume no trade 
or profession, but will read the newspaper 
as will be explained. 

All should sit before the leader, so there 
can be no mistake about seeing each other. 

When every person has settled her and 
his part, the leader takes up any daily paper 
which is convenient and reads from it ; but 
whenever the leader pauses, and looks at a 
player, whether the pause and look is in- 
tentional or accidental, the one looked at 
must at once make a suitable remark about 
his profession, business or trade. There 
must not be a second's hesitation, and the 
more ridiculous such a remark may be, the 
more amusement is gotten out of the game. 

As soon as the player has concluded his 



88 Fttn for the Household. 

observation, the leader continues reading, 
the same as if his theme had not been in- 
terrupted, and in a few seconds, pauses 
again, and looks at another player. Then 
this player makes his remark instantane- 
ously about his trade, and thus the game 
goes on. 

In order to better understand, suppose the 
leader reads, ''This is Bunker Hill Day. 
It is not a legal holiday, but by general 
consent the banks and stores laid aside,'' 
(here he looks at the dressmaker). 

Dressmaker : *' The big sleeves and wide 
skirts are not liked by everybody.'' 

*' The observance of the day by a — '"' 

Marine Artist :'* Sale of my painting 
'Off the Rocks at Scarborough.' " 

" Is limited to Charlestown district, on one 
of whose hillslopes stood the Middlesex 
farmers, the hayseed still in their — " 

Butcher: ''Marrow bones and spare- 
ribs. " 

" And in their hands the guns that had 
been gaining reputation in the shooting 
of—' 

Grocer : " Eggs twenty-five cents a dozen." 
" And wild fowl. How they refused to 
budge before British regulars, until they 
had fired all their — " 

Confectioner : " Chocolate caramels pack- 
ed in layers with waxed paper between." 

"Away, and felt the pricks of the enemy's 
polished — " 



Fun for the Household, 89 

Ironmonger: '^ Poker and tongs, shovels 
and spades/' 

''The world well knows Charlestown 
keeps up the remembrance of these — " 

Florist : '* Water-lily pads, and moss-rose 
buds/' 

''At a lively rate." 

And so on reads the newspaper, making 
the proper pauses and glances, until every- 
body has taken part and indeed over and 
over again taken part. Care should be used 
as to the selection read, as some paragraphs 
allow for much more amusement than do 
others. 

When any player fails to at once make a 
suitable remark he must pay a forfeit, which 
can only be redeemed by music or recita- 
tion. 

THE NEW DIXEY's LAND. 

This is an out-of-door game, and may be 
played on the ground or on the grass, mark- 
ing the court or lawn with the same mate- 
rial as if arranging a court for tennis. 

Form a circle with a diameter of twelve 
feet, divide the circle into quarters, each 
quarter representing a section of our country, 
east, west, north, south, and should be so 
marked. One letter would represent each 
word, — E, for east, W, for west, and so on. 
The oldest boy now becomes the owner of 
the entire territory, and is named Dixey. 



go Fun for the Household. 

This boy must stand directly at the point 
where the lines unite, the middle of the 
circle, and as soon as he is in position, 
any player may run into any quarter of the 
ground. He must not stand on the line ; 
should he do so, and be tagged on that line, 
he can no longer play. 

But having run into a quarter, he must 
loudly call, ''Dixey, I'm on your North 
land, now it belongs to me/' Or, ''Dixey, 
I'm on your South land," etc. He must 
rightly name the section on which he stands. 

Dixey must tag him before he is through 
stating words above given. Should he fail 
to do so, the invading player must then 
run from the part he has claimed, all around 
the outside of the circle, and then to Dixey's 
station, the centre. Dixey, of course, runs 
after him, trying to tag him before he com- 
pletes the circuit. Neither may take short 
cuts by darting across lines, until the run 
around the circle is completed, and the in- 
vader strikes in toward Dixey 's middle 
ground. Whoever gets there first is now 
owner of all, and the original Dixey can 
only get back by earning the position, as 
the new Dixey has just done. 

The winner of the game is the one who 
has been Dixey the greatest number of 
times, or should no one be Dixey but once, 
whoever holds the position at the game's 
close. 

Therefore the necessity of deciding how 



Fun for the Household. 91 

long you will play before the game com- 
mences. 

Any number that can stand on a quarter, 
maybe there at the same time, as only one 
can be Dixey. 

Dixey cannot save himself by failing to 
leave his post. The first call he hears, he 
must obey, just as any other landowner 
would keep off an intruder. 

Every rule must be strictly obeyed. 
Should any one fail, he is no longer a player. 

The game is peculiarly adapted to boys, 
and each one must be careful neither to be 
rough nor rude. In the straining to get 
ahead, it will be such an easy thing to 
knock another boy down, or to prevent him 
from reaching the goal. First, remember to 
be honest ; second, to be polite, 

BATTLE OF FLOWERS. 

Why should not boys and girls take the 
lead in the popular fete P AH who own 
pony carts, phaetons, wagons of any sort, 
or who can borrow them, may enter the 
parade and battle, and why not interest 
your Sunday or day school in such an 
entertainment and secure a large float } 

The designs for floats are innumerable ; 
among them might be mentioned Flora and 
the seasons, America, pagodas, chariots. 
Daughters of the American Revolution, the 
Floral Queen. The teachers should have 



92 Fim for the Household, 

the matter in charge, and one of them 
should act as chairman, and appoint com- 
mittees to attend to all the necessary busi- 
ness. The scholars should willingly assist 
in the gathering of flowers, trimming, or 
whatever would be required. 

All the vehicles must be transformed into 
moving bowers, and this necessitates con- 
siderable work, but it is work that pays ; 
besides, the real jolly boys and girls will 
only consider that they have had great fun. 

Decide on your decorations, and then 
gather flowers. You will need a great 
many to make much show. And wire will 
be found helpful in making the flowers 
stand upright, or giving the desired twist. 
Flowers may be tied upon cord, and when a 
long rope is made, it can be wound around, 
or fastened to the carriage, but it will take 
less time, and be less hurtful to the hands, 
if you cut a piece of wire netting the desired 
shape, and run the flower stems through 
the holes, or cut a piece of soft muslin the 
correct shape, and baste the flowers on. 
Flowers such as golden-rod, will need to 
have all the leaves stripped before com- 
mencing to decorate. Wreaths the exact 
size of the wheel hubs will look very hand- 
some, particularly if the spokes are wound 
about with satin ribbon the same color as 
the flowers. If you cover the reins, sew 
two pieces of ribbon lengthwise, through 
which the reins will slip ; put full bows of 



Fun for the Household, 93 

the same on the harness, and cover the 
collar with flowers. The same ribbon 
should also appear in the carriage decora- 
tion. 

. A very pretty effect is gotten from white 
hydrangeas and yellow satin ribbons, or 
white hydrangeas tipped with pink and pink 
satin ribbons. Violet-colored flowers look 
well in such a parade, and a stylish cut car- 
riage may be trimmed with ears and husks 
of corn, suspending the ears by the husks. 
The costume of those inside the carriage 
must be complementary to the decoration. 

The streets through which you pass should 
look festive and the spectators be dressed in 
holiday attire. A line of march must be 
arranged, and, on the counter-march, the 
battle begins. Then roses and flowers of 
all sorts are thrown from carriage to carriage, 
and from the carriages to the people on the 
street, and from those on the street to the 
carriages ; indeed people throw them with 
both hands, so excited they become. 

Until it is time for the battle, have your 
baskets full of flowers to throw well hidden. 
And when the pelting begins have a suffi- 
cient supply, so that it will not be necessary 
to use any of the decorations. 

GRACE HOOPS. 

This game is usually played out of doors, 
but it may be played in large rooms or 



94 -^^^ for the Household. 

conservatories, provided you put out of 
accident's way all the bric-a-brac, potted 
plants, and palms. Try the game also in 
an enclosed veranda or sun-parlor, should 
the time appointed prove stormy, or the 
grass be soggy from last night's storm, or 
there be too high a wind. 

Grace hoops require a pole, not as tall 
as a maypole, but one smooth at the top. 
The one we lately saw had been a notice- 
able balsam tree, until cut off five feet from 
the ground. Its top was stocky, its side 
branches as healthful and green appearing 
as ever, notwithstanding the fact that they 
had been trimmed close enough to allow a 
small hoop to easily fall over them. 

The rings called grace hoops are made of 
light wood, not dissimilar to embroidery 
rings, excepting that they are nearly two 
feet in diameter. To make such a game 
very pretty, trim the hoops with wild 
flowers, wintergreen berries or leaves. All 
the girls should wear gay frocks and flower- 
dressed, broad-brimmed hats. 

If you are playing the game in the spring, 
suggest spring flowers and colors in your 
costume. A pretty effect would be gotten 
from a violet-colored cloth, trimmed with 
purple velvet, with a glint of gold revealed 
in the shoulder-bow ribbons and wide sash, 
the hat being a deep yellow straw flat, 
massed with single violets. Arbutus, wild 
roses, lilies of the valley, lilacs and cow- 



Fun for the Household. 95 

slips, as, also, the new green, are all sug- 
gestive of spring, and catchy lawn toilets. 

Throw the grace hoops over the pole, and 
there let them hang until the score has 
counted. You may each throw in turn, as 
often as has been decided before the game 
opens. Each time the hoop hangs on the 
pole it counts one. 

Pretty silk badges may be lettered or gold- 
starred, to denote your score, or you may 
use plain cardboard, and mark such with a 
lead pencil. Between each round the score 
must be marked. After the last round is 
played distribute rewards, which may as- 
sume any character you please, but it is 
better to give wreaths of flowers, or crown 
the hero with laurel. The wreath might go 
to the highest girl scorer, and the laurel to 
the boy, or give each wreaths, or each bou- 
quets. 

A simple grace-hoop game is played by 
two people. Stand facing each other, ten 
feet apart, and rapidly toss the hoop from 
one to the othei;, catching it on sticks. Try 
and see how often you can keep it from 
falling. 

AN AMATEUR CIRCUS. 

When so many young people are trained 
in athletic sports, calisthenics, delsarte exer- 
cises, etc., why not form an amateur circus 
company ? Limit the number to twenty 



96 Fun for the Hoitseliold. 

four, the girls and boys being equal or un- 
equal in number, as seems best. Such a 
company might easily arrange an attractive 
entertainment, and invite their friends to an 
occasional matinee performance, or, should 
they feel inclined, they could give a perform- 
ance as a charity benefit. 

Musicians, tricksters, clowns, animals and 
a ring would be required. 

The space for the ring would be the most 
difficult to obtain, but many people have 
large shady grounds connected with their 
homes that it would be a pleasure to lend to 
their young friends. 

Outline a ring as you would mark a court, 
and make it sufficiently large to comfortably 
give your exhibition. Do not attempt a 
tent. 

Place the seats for your audience six feet 
back of the ring, as this allows freedom for 
both performers and spectators. Keep an 
entrance to the ring free, so that performers 
do not disarrange the seats. 

As nearly as possible, copy the programme 
of the regular circus ; therefore, the first dis- 
play should be the grand tournament and 
triumphal entree, when the entire company 
should march several times around the ring. 
Every one should look fantastic ; some of 
the girls might go bareheaded, others wear 
wreaths of artificial flowers, and again others 
wear jaunty caps, etc. Remember that 
fancy-colored paper, muslin, gold paper, and 



Fun for the Household, 97 

spangles, will give showy effect. The 
clowns should be either very thin or very 
stout. The thin ones may be made stout 
by building themselves with cotton batting. 
A noticeable costume for the clowns might 
be white muslin, showered with gold and 
silver stars and spangles, or yellow muslin 
ornamented with silver or red full moons, 
circles or polka dots. And their head 
covering might be white beaver hats or 
fools' caps. 

Throughout the procession, carry numer- 
ous flags and banners. An effective banner 
might be mad of white canton flannel, 
showered with diamond dust ; indeed make 
the eni7'ee as gay as flowers, color and 
spangles can produce. 

The entire company should be active 
members, some of them being the drum 
corps, others musicians ; comic songs should 
be sung by the funny clown, assisted by a 
chorus. 

There should be walking and running 
matches, three-legged and sack races, jump- 
ing, fancy tumbling, sensational feats of all 
sorts. There could be a mimic football 
match, and a tennis tournament between 
those who had never held a racket ; indeed 
anything could be introduced that would 
give genuine fun. The clowns should tell 
several jokes, and laughable stories, ride 
pigs, cows, and make themselves generally 
ridiculous. 



98 Fun for the Household. 

Perhaps some of the company could bor- 
row trained dogs or other trained animals. 
If so, remember that tricks are always 
entertaining. 

THE STILL HUNT. 

Possibly some of the boys' fathers have 
been still hunting, and if so they fully under- 
stand that it means deer hunting without 
hounds. 

The game still hunt differs from the real 
hunt in many ways, but possibly the most 
important one is in the fact that the deer in 
this case is only the form of a deer. It is 
better to play it out of doors, but if you have 
a large enough room it may be played any- 
where. 

Whoever can draw best should be the 
individual to outline the deer, and it must be 
drawn on the ground. The best ground is 
gravel, though, as in the case of tennis, or 
other field games, the deer maybe designed 
on the grass. 

The deer should be fully grown and have 
large antlers. After he is distinctly drawn 
he must be surrounded by a circle, the line 
of which measures four feet from the nearest 
point of the deer. 

When the game is played out of doors, a 
smooth round stone about the size of a wal- 
nut will be required ; but when played inside 
use a fifty-cent piece, or an old-fashioned 



Fun for the Household, 99 

cent. And for the indoor drawing use 
chalk. 

The deer circle being now ready, the 
girls and boys become hunters, and state 
which part of the deer they want. Some 
will decide on the antlers, because they will 
make a useful ornament, and they will have 
them serve as a rack for a gun or umbrella. 
Others again want a hoof, because it will 
make such a fine hunting-knife or paper- 
cutter handle, and so each part of the deer 
is divided. 

When everybody has selected their part, 
the tallest hunter takes his stand, with his 
toes to the outer edge of the circle, and as 
far from the part he selected as is possible 
He then throws the stone. If it rests on any 
part of the chosen place, he may count ten, 
but if the stone stops outside of the part, he 
is marked down five. He then picks up the 
stone, and hands it to the next player, who 
is the one next to himself in height. Then 
this hunter takes his stand at the place fur- 
thest from his selected part, and thus the 
game continues, until all have played in 
turn. Then the first hunter takes another 
chance, and so on again all follow. The 
one counting fifty first has won. 

It is necessary to keep an accurate score, 
as the fives marked against the hunters have 
to be deducted ; indeed if great care is not 
used, a hunter will be in debt, instead of 
earning his game. Therefore, the best hunt- 



lOO Fun for the Household. 

er is he who keeps still and takes accurate 
aim. If he fails at the first throwing, notice 
where the fault liewS, — it may be less force is 
required. 

It is better to have an umpire ; therefore 
select one before the game begins, and re- 
member to pleasantly abide by his decision. 

The stone must be altogether on, to be 
counted on, and in the case of the antlers 
the stone must touch some of the antler 
points. 

LAWN GOLF. 

This is played somewhat like croquet, 
only twenty-five wickets are used, instead 
of nine, and they are placed one after an- 
other, all around the ground. Beyond each 
wicket is a small hole, large enough for the 
ball to enter, and the game is to send the 
ball through the wicket and into the hole at 
one shot. When a player fails to do this, 
he may be allowed three shots to an inning. 

Before commencing the game, state the 
time it will be played. 

Decide who is to lead by shooting an ar- 
row from a selected point. Whoever throws 
the farthest is to go first, the others follow, 
according to the distance made. In con- 
sidering space, measure the distance be- 
tween the starting place and the arrow's 
sharp end. 

If you want a famous good time give a 
Lawn Golf Party. 



Fun for the Household. loi 

When you do so trim the handles of your 
golf sticks with gay-colored ribbons, and at 
the game's close, give the champions paper- 
flower rewards. 

Exquisite flowers may nowadays be made 
out of paper, and the making of such afl'ord 
only pleasure. Roses of all shades are fetch- 
ing, so also are violets, and some varieties 
of lilies. Every one who lives in a large 
city will at once know where to get mate- 
rials and instruction, and one girl can readily 
teach another. Those who live in the coun- 
try or small villages, surely have some kind 
city friend who can select and send mate- 
rials, and possibly written directions about 
the making. 

After presenting the rewards, have supper 
on the lawn, and afterwards other games 
are in order. 



102 Fun for the Household. 



GROWN-UPS. 

ALPHABETICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Give every one in the room a number. 
And when you call for a number announce 
a letter of the alphabet. The person called 
must, before you count six, apply the letter 
to the name of a place and to two things he 
might see there. 

For example : 

No. I. Y, 

I am going to York to see Youngsters and 
Yachts. 

No. 2. B. 

I am going to Baltimore to see Belles and 
Beaux. 

COMPOSITION. 

Arrange for it beforehand, and therefore 
have the requisite slips of paper, and nicely 
sharpened lead pencils ready for all, but if 
you ar-e not ready there is a certain satisfac- 
tion in knowing that part of the amusement 
may be in the preparation. In the latter 
case, have a competition as to who will 
make the sharpest points on the pencils, or 
cut the papers the most accurately ; when 
all is prepared, however, give slips of paper 



Fun for the Household. 103 

and lead pencils to your friends, and ask 
them to write the words you will name. 
State that they will have fifteen minutes in 
which to write a composition, and put into 
the same every word you have mentioned. 
No one can look over his neighbor's paper, 
and each composition must be signed with 
the writer's full name. 

When the time has expired, all the com- 
positions are collected and read aloud, votes 
are taken as to which is the best, and the in- 
dividual having received the highest number 
of votes is entitled to a prize. 

Example : Wreath, Mausoleum, suicide, 
farewell, another, conjointly, starred, hunts- 
man's song, early, queen, historical, many, 
dramas. 

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was for many 
years Poet Laureate. He wrote several 
poems, descriptive, historical, national and 
otherwise. He also wrote three notable 
dramas, one called Becket, known as 
Thomas a Becket, Chancellor of England, 
afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, an- 
other called Queen Mary, the WVstarred 
daughter of Henry the Eighth, and Harold, 
who was Earl of Wessex, afterwards King 
of England. 

Early in life Tennyson wrote several 
poems, conjointly with his brother Charles. 
Among these were the Huntsman s Song. 
The Grave of a Suicide. The Fall of Jeru- 
salem, and the Bard's Farewell, 



I04 Fun for the Household, 

Tennyson's monument is in that great 
English mausoleum, Westminster Abbey. 
On the dark stone slab, the visitor may fre- 
quently see a wreath of laurel, so placed in 
grateful memory. 

As this game would often er than other- 
wise be played informally, the matter of 
prizes cannot be too simple. If you are in 
the birch-bark section, why not make a book- 
mark or a napkin ring out of the bark? 
Should you be at the seashore make a nest 
of shells. For example, find a large mussel 
shell, and next to it put one a size smaller, 
and so on fit in the others, graduating them 
evenly, the top one being very small. Or 
give a curious shell, which may be used as 
an ornament or receptacle. 



INITIAL PLATTER TWIRLING. 

This is very amusing, but the players 
must be on the alert or they will surely be 
caught. 

Before the game commences, every player 
must tell the initials of his and her name, 
and to aid memory, slips of paper may be 
given, on which each one may WTite his in- 
itials. 

When the sentence is called by the person 
twirling the platter, all the company must 
eagerly listen, or else the platter will fall to 
the floor before the one who should have 



Fun for the Household, 105 

run for it, recognizes he is the one called. 
If the platter is not caught by the proper 
person before it ceases to whirl, he or she 
must exchange places with the one who has 
whirled the platter. As the sentences are 
impromptu, they are apt to be absurd and 
ridiculous, but in any case they should be 
correct, or the one making the error must 
give a forfeit. Each sentence must have as 
many words as the initials of the one called, 
and each word must commence with the 
right letter. Example : Frank Eraser Phillips 
might be called Erench Eried Potatoes. Or 
Janet Belle Roberts might be June Brings 
Roses. 

This game should cause much merriment. 
It quickens thought and language, and it is 
suitable to all ages, — the boys and the girls, 
or their fathers and mothers. 



OVER, OVER, WHOSE HEAD IS IT OVER.? 

This is a clever trick, and it requires two 
persons. The idea is for the confederate 
out of the room to correctly name the indi- 
vidual over whose head the other person is 
holding a wand. 

A person takes a cane, which he carelessly 
points toward some one ; while so doing he 
is cleverly explaining what he is about to 
do, asking people to move, in order to fur- 
ther mystify, etc. The confederate notes 



io6 Fun for the Household. 

where the cane is pointing, then goes from 
the room, and the one holding the wand 
puts it over several heads, saying **Over/' 
which the confederate echoes, until finally 
the question comes, when the wand is over 
the person before surreptitiously pointed 
out, *' Whose head is it over ? '' The con- 
federate s answer is naturally correct. 

TEAKETTLE. 

This may be played by a number of 
people. 

A noun which has two or more meanings 
is selected. One may be thought of by any 
of the players, and in describing the same 
he should use the word *' teakettle" instead 
of the proper name. All meanings of the 
word must be explained, but not too clearly 
at the first, else the *' teakettle" will be 
at once guessed. When any of the listeners 
think they have discovered the word, in- 
stead of naming it, he should ask a question 
regarding the *' teakettle" which would in- 
dicate to the one describing the same, 
whether the interrogator was correct. If 
correct, he too joins in the description, and 
throws light on the word. This should be 
continued until all the company show by 
their conversation that they know the noun 
selected. Not infrequently it is necessary 
to talk very plainly, or throw ''electric 
light " on the teakettle before it is guessed. 



Fun for the Household, 107 

Example : The teakettle I have in my 
mind, has been from the creation of the 
world, and will continue until the world 
ends. It is also peculiar in being of the 
most service during the winter, and forms a 
distinguished position in the homes of all 
American households at Thanksgiving din- 
ners. My teakettle is cultivated on the farm 
of many a plain countryman, but graces the 
table of many a fastidious city millionaire, 
and the longer it lasts, the shorter it grows. 
Already somebody is sure they know the 
word, and says, ' ' Your teakettle may be 
squandered, may it not.f^" and another asks. 
** Wasn't it Queen Elizabeth who would have 
given her crown for a diminutive teakettle ? '' 
And yet another asks, "Is it not savory, and 
of great assistance to the poultry cook?" 
And thus light is thrown, until the teakettle 
in question is known to be another name for 
thy me J and time, 

AUTHORS. 

This is a popular game for students young 
or old. 

Some one who understands should have 
charge. 

Give each person the same sized piece of 
writing paper and a lead pencil. On the 
piece of paper he must write a familiar 
quotation, and then pass it to his left-hand 
neighbor. The one who receives it must 



io8 Fun for the Household. 

add the author's name, and also his own. 
If he does not know the author, he must 
write underneath the quotation the word 
''Unknown," and his own name. 

Five minutes are allowed in which to 
write a quotation, and three minutes to 
affix the name of the author, and the signa- 
ture of the writer. The papers are then 
collected by the person in charge, who will 
then proceed to read aloud the quotations, 
authors, and signatures. 

All persons unable to write a quotation 
must pay a forfeit. All unable to transcribe 
the name of the author, must also pay a 
forfeit. 

Should there be a dispute regarding an 
author, the one in charge must decide. 

Example : 

Bottles and blisters, powders and pills. 

Catnip, boneset syrup and squills ; 

Drugs and medicines, high and low, 

I throw them as far as I can throw 

Will Carleton 
George Jones. 

AUTHORS. 

* * No. 2. 

The hostess should form a ring with her- 
self in the centre, and to make it more com- 
fortable all should have chairs. Number 
each person,naming yourself last. Number 
one repeats a quotation, Number two tells 
the author, Number three gives another 



Fun for the Household. 109 

quotation, and Number four gives the au- 
thor, and so on. The person in charge, who 
is the one in the centre of the ring, keeps 
the game under proper control and time. 
No longer than ten seconds should be al- 
lowed for each person to respond. Every 
wrong guess of an author demands a for- 
feit. Surely, every one can give a quota- 
tion. 

Example : 

No. I, gives, 

Old Mother Hubbard 
Went to the cupboard. 

No. 2, Mother Goose. 
No. 3, 

Between the dark and the daylight, 
When the night is beginning to lower. 

No. 4, Longfellow. 
No. 5, 

Not a lord in all the country 
Is so great a lord as he. 

No. 6, Tennyson. 



GHOST. 

This is a spelling game. A person gives 
a letter, not necessarily having any particu- 
lar word in mind, his next neighbor must 



no Fun for the Household. 

think of a word beginning with this letter, 
and then say the second letter, the third 
person must think of a word using the two 
letters previously given, and add the third 
and so on, to the end of the word. A per- 
son is not a ghost until he is four times 
caught. 

The penalties are to be challenged right- 
fully, to challenge wrongfully, or to com- 
plete a word. The challenging consists in 
doubting a letter which a player has given. 
A player may say, '^I challenge you," when 
a person has added a letter, if he feels sure 
there is no word spelled in that order. If 
rightfully challenged, the speaker has one 
penalty against him as ghost. If, on the 
contrary, he gives the word which he had 
in his mind, as he is bound to do when 
challenged, the challenger is one-fourth of 
a ghost. 

Every word finished makes one- fourth of 
a ghost, but it is proper to add a letter and 
thus form a new syllable. If a syllable of 
a word is a complete word in itself, the one 
pronouncing the last letter has incurred the 
penalty. For example, take the word re- 
velry. R-e-v-e have been given, and unless 
the fifth player can think of n, and change it 
to revenue, or some other word, he must say 
1, and thus the word ends. 

Whoever is ghost has to keep absolute 
silence throughout the game. 



Fun for the Household. in 

CELEBRATED AUTHORS. 

One member of the company should leave 
the room, while those who remain deter- 
mine what celebrated author he is to rep- 
resent. 

On his return, he must in all respects be 
treated as that author w^ould be were he the 
guest of the evening-. He must be enter- 
tained by conversation and questions which 
would be of interest. Neither the conversa- 
tion nor the questions may be misleading, 
but on the contrary helpful to the discovery 
of himself. He may be Shakespeare or Kirk 
Monroe, or if a girl she may be Lucy Lar- 
com or Mary E. Wilkins. 

Suppose Shakespeare is the distinguished 
guest. Of course all polite people would 
rise to receive him, and the hostess would 
offer him the most comfortable chair ; every 
one's manner would indicate that they were 
in the presence of greatness. 

The conversation would naturally be of 
England and the changes that had come to 
her within the last three hundred years. 
That the town in which he was born had 
changed greatly ; that the streets once so 
full of mud and refuse were now^ not only 
clean and tidy but almost uncomfortable 
wnth too great cleanliness and neatness. 
That the town owned a very pretty theatre, 
ornamented with statues of heroes and hero- 
ines. That a fine drinking fountain had 



112 Fun for the Household. 

lately been put there by a philanthropic vis- 
itor from Philadelphia, now dead. That 
the townspeople had been known to express 
their delight over the fact that he had been 
so obliging as to be born there. 

He might be asked how he liked Queen 
Elizabeth, and if it was true she was as fond 
of him as had been expressed, and if so why 
didnH he write something In Memoriam of 
her? 

If the company discovers that the person 
who is personating Shakespeare is not able, 
after a few minutes of opportunity, to guess 
who he is, they should then throw on more 
light, by either asking him more prominent 
questions, or in connection with each other 
indicate more clearly. Ask some such 
question as, How far was the Mermaid 
Tavern from the home of John Milton .? and. 
Did you meet Ben Jonson there.? or did 
you call for each other and go and dine 
together } 

There is great difference of opinion as to 
the correct way to spell your name. In the 
register which marks your birth, we noticed 
in reading the surname, that the letter E 
was left out of the first syllable. Do you 
put it in the last syllable, or is it out of that 
also ? Did the boys ever call you Bill } 
Isn't Warwickshire beautiful 1 What do 
you think of the river Avon } In what year 
did Bacon write Hamlet } 

Of course, by this time, the celebrated 



Fun for the Household. 1 1 3 

Author would be guessed and some one else 
would leave the room, another Author be 
selected^ and the game proceed as before. 



THE ARSENAL. 

The players must be seated in a circle, 
with the understanding that whoever smiles 
must pay a forfeit. No. i turns to his neigh- 
bor on the left and sings, while nodding 
his head, 

Are you going to the Arsenal, the Arsenal, 
And see the animals in Central Park ? 

The person addressed replies in the same 
tune, nodding, 

Yes, I'm going to the Arsenal, the Arsenal, 
And see the animals in Central Park. 

Then both sing and nod, 

Two of us are going to the Arsenal, the Arsenal, 
And see the animals in Central Park, 

No. 2 then turns to No 3, nodding and 
singing the same question, who replies in 
the same way, only singing. 

Three of us are going to the Arsenal, the Arsenal, 
And see the animals in Central Park. 

And so complete the circle, the chorus being 
added to by one or more each time. 
8 



114 Fun for the Household. 

MAGICAL READING. 

Ask your audience to be seated, while 
you talk for a few minutes on the wonders 
of occult science. Having mystified them 
as much as possible, you arouse their curi- 
osity by announcing that you are now pre- 
pared to state whatever they may choose to 
draw or write, provided the sentence is a 
short one, by pressing the words or picture 
against your forehead, instead of reading 
with the eye. 

You then distribute lead pencils, and 
equal sized slips of paper to all who wish to 
try, and take your seat at a table, on which 
you put a work-basket, with the request 
that when they are finished, they will fold 
the papers over once and then drop them 
in the basket. 

When this is done you draw out any 
paper you may first touch ; unfolding it so 
that you cannot read, you press it against 
your forehead, being careful to cover the 
entire paper with the fingers of each hand, 
which touch each other. You must explain 
that this contact is necessary for your 
revelation. After some minutes spent in 
thought, you read it and immediately draw 
another paper, laying each one before you, 
behind the basket. 

The trick is simple, and consists in read- 
ing any word or sentence which may first 
occur to you, for the first paper, but read- 



Fun for the Household. 1 1 5 

ing the words thereon, or noting the picture 
when you lay it behind the basket. The 
picture or words on the first paper are read 
for the second, the second read for the 
third, and so on, until the last one has been 
pressed to the forehead, in removing which 
it is hidden by being crushed in the hand, or 
in whichever way may prove the easiest at 
the time, as the last paper is a necessity to 
make up for the one you falsely read. 

It is not often that this trick is detected, 
unless it is bunglingly shown, and for that 
there is no excuse, as it is ridiculous to ex- 
hibit magic without long and careful prac- 
tice. 

Always change as much as possible the 
method of exhibition and never show this 
feat twice in one evening. Remember that 
diversion is an important feature in all mag- 
ical entertainment ; therefore you should 
be a capital story-teller, have a fund of funny 
stories on which you call at a moment s need, 
for the attention of your friends must be 
constantly turned from your nervousness. 

Every one understands that they are being 
deceived. You must be a clever magician or 
they will discover how. 



LAUGHABLE RHYMES. 

This game may amuse any number, if those 
playing will each pleasantly do their part. 



Il6 Fun for the Household. 

The company should be seated in a circle 
and the one in charge repeats from memory, 
reads from a book, or makes up a line of 
poetry. The individual to whom he ad- 
dresses it, must add a line of the same 
rhyme and sense. 

When the director has given his line, he 
runs three times around the outside of the 
circle, or he may spin a large tin platter. 
The second line of poetry must be added 
before he completes his third round of the 
circle, or before the platter has ceased to 
spin. Should the line fail to be given in 
time, the one to give it must pay a forfeit. 
The director then gives another line to an- 
other person, the game thus continuing 
until all have taken part, or the players 
desire a change. 

The director may change any time with 
any one of the company. Poetry of merit 
is not expected. 

Examples : 

Director, (giving a line), 

*'Miss Beechers class came down the 
street." 

Answer. 

''And every one looked perfectly sweet.*' 

Director, 

''Ring, ring, rosy,'' 

Answer, 

** Fm your Josy. 

Director, 

*' I wandered by the brook-side." 



Fun for the Household, ii^ 

Answer, 

** I saw you on my morning ride." 
Another way of playing laughable rhymes, 
is to give each one of the company a piece 
of paper and a pencil. Each paper has a 
verse written on it of the same number of 
lines in length. But these lines are incom- 
plete, as each line is minus one word. This 
word may be the last one of a line, or it 
may be any of the others. Five minutes is 
a fair time to allow for the completion of 
these rhymes. Then the papers should be 
collected and read aloud, the reader in- 
dicating the supplied words. All failing to 
complete their verses wathin the time al- 
lowed must pay a forfeit. 

Examples : 

*at fell of itself 

The lazy ball 

And you needn't tell me 

I let it fall 

Perhaps it was tired 

Like me and you 

And wanted to rest 

A minute or two. " 

Supplied w^ord in parentheses above 
(you) 
''What do think 

(don't) 
I'm sure I know. 



Ii8 Fun for the Households 

(tell) 
Don't anybody 

(oh) 
Oh, no ! no ! 

(told) 
Somebody me 

(else) 
That some one said 

(told) 
That so and so them 

(what) 
You won't tell I said ? '* 

For older people, try and pique their mem- 
ories ; therefore some familiar poem should 
be selected, or some sonnet of Shakspeare. 

*' On either side the river lie 

Long fields of barley and of rye 

That clothe the world and meet the 

sky ; 
And thro' the field the road runs by 

To many tower'd Camelot ; 

And up and down the people go 

Gazing where the lilies blow 

Round an island there below, 

The island of Shalott." 

(for) 
*' So oft have I invoked thee my Muse 

(in) 
And found such fair assistance my verse 

(got) 
As every alien pen hath my use 



Fun for the Household. 119 

(their) 
And under thee poesy disperse. 

(on) 
Thine eyes that taught the dumb high 

to sing, 

(aloft) 
And heavy ignorance to fly, 

(the) 
Have added feathers to learned's wing 

(double) 
And given grace a majesty. 

(which) 
Yet be most proud of that I compile, 

(born) 
Whose influence is thine and of thee : 

(mend) 
In others' works thou dost but the 

style, 

(graces) 
And arts with thy sweet graced be ; 

(and) 
But thou art all my art dost advance 

(my) 
As high as learning rude ignorance. ' 



MAKING A DICTIONARY. 

This game is more suitable for scholars ; 
those who have made a study of biography 
and definition. It is readily divided in two 
parts, and each part may be played sepa- 
rately, but it is more satisfactory to unite 



120 Fun for the Household, 

them. The first part is to guess who is per- 
sonated, and the second is to write def- 
initions. If everybody understands or is 
studying French it would be a change to 
personate a Frenchman, and, in like manner, 
if every player understands or is studying 
German, personate a German, perhaps some 
author, whose book is authority in school. 

The leader of the game commences by 
stating, ''I have compiled a dictionary," and 
if he is personating a German, before pro- 
ceeding further he must give that clue. Ex- 
ample : '' Ever since the appearance of the 
vocabulary to my German Reader in 1870, 
I have been receiving, from various quarters, 
suggestions and solicitations of a more gen- 
eral German dictionary, to be constructed 
upon the same plan." And if he is person- 
ating a Frenchman he must be equally 
helpful. 

After this the leader is silent until asked 
questions, which he must correctly answer. 
Should he be representing the notable Noah 
Webster, the following would readily dis- 
cover him. 

'' Were you born in the United States } " 

''Yes." 

' * Were you born in the South ? '' 

^^No." 

''In the East?'' 

*'Yes." 

*' Are vou living t" 

'*No.'' 



Fun for the Household, 121 

'' Were you very old when you died? '* 
''Yes, in my eighty-fifth year/' 
'' What college did you attend? " 
*'Yale." 

" What was your father s business ? " 
'' He was a farmer and justice of the 
peace/' 

" Tell me about your mother/' 
''She was a descendant of William Brad- 
ford, the second Governor of Plymouth 
Colony/' 

''Were you married ? " 
"Yes/' 

" How many children had you ? " 
"Six; one son and five daughters/' 
By this time any player knowing the biog- 
raphy of Mr. Webster would have guessed 
him. 

The leader now distributes to each person 
equal sized pieces of paper, on which the 
same and several words have been written. 
He also gives them lead pencils. The test 
is to write the best definitions for these 
words, which, if honestly done, is without 
consultation. A minute is allowed for each 
word, and the papers being signed are then 
collected, and by the leader read to the 
audience. With a dictionary for reference 
there will be no dispute as to who has won. 
Test words should be common ones, as 
they are much more difficult to define. For 
instance, Defy, — a challenge. Fortieth, — 
following the thirty-ninth, or preceded by 



122 Fun for the Household, 

thirty-nine units, things or parts, the quo- 
tient of a unit divided by forty. To-mor- 
row, — a day after the present. Wrist, — the 
joint connecting the hand with the arm. 
Rather than such as Homing Home, — used 
specifically of carrier pigeons. Subpoena, 
— a summons for witnesses. Xanthine, — 
yellow dyeing matter in certain plants and 
flowers. Islamism, — the Mohammedan re- 
ligion. 

This game played with the right people, 
will give a delightful evening. 

DESERT ISLAND. 

Make believe that you have heard of peo- 
ple living on a desert island, on which there 
is absolutely nothing for their comfort or 
enjoyment. 

Distribute an equal number of pieces of 
wood, and ask your guests to cut out uten- 
sils for cooking, furniture, etc. Or give 
papers, and let each in the game draw arti- 
cles, or take the papers and fold to shape 
articles. A limit of time must be named, 
and in the end, whoever has made or drawn 
or folded the greatest number of recogniz- 
able articles has won the game. 

THE BUTTERFLY TEST. 

Cut white writing paper in uniform size — 
eight in width by ten in length. Have as 



Fun for the Household, 123 

many pieces of paper as the number of 
painters, also several extra ones, as un- 
doubtedly the butterfly makers would want 
to try again and yet again. One palette 
would suffice for a large company, for every 
one likes to watch the development of his 
neighbor's work, almost as much as he does 
his own. But, of course, more palettes may 
be used if desired. Oil paints of divers 
colors must be placed on the palette, hav- 
ing a larger amount of the yellow paint than 
of any of the others, for not only are there 
more yellow butterflies, but yellow often 
conspicuously appears in almost every but- 
terfly. As many palette-knives will be re- 
quired as palettes. Brushes are not needed. 

Put one butterfly on one piece of paper 
only. Fold the paper you use exactly in 
half, creasing it the longest way, thus giv- 
ing it the appearance of an ordinary sheet 
of letter paper. This done, take the palette- 
knife and on its point and edge gather a 
little of the paint, putting the knife into the 
different portions, and so getting the colors 
which you desire. It is better to allow the 
paint to extend about half to two-thirds of 
an inch along the inside edge of the knife. 
All the paint you would need would not 
more than cover a five-cent nickel. 

When the paint is on the palette-knife, 
open your sheet of paper, and in the exact 
centre of the inside crease, put the paint. 
This is done by putting the edge of the 



124 Fun for the Household. 

point of the knife directly in the crease, and 
pressing downward, and also a trifle towards 
the right. 

Be satisfied with whatever leaves the knife 
the first time. Do not attempt to pick the 
paint off, or stick more on. Then carefully 
remove all paint from the palette-knife. For 
this you will need a small piece of soft cot- 
ton cloth. Where many people are at work 
several cloths should be in readiness. 

The palette-knife now being clean, fold 
the paper over in the crease first made, be- 
ing careful that you have folded it even, 
otherwise, the wings of the butterfly would 
be out of proportion, one being higher than 
the other. When the paper is folded you 
will distinctly see the blotch inside, and in 
this press heavily with the end of the palette- 
knife, starting at the crease and form an 
upward long arch, then press again from the 
centre towards the right, and arch in the 
same way, only proportionately shorter. 
The two arches should meet. 

W^hen you have pressed over and over 
again on the same places, and find that it is 
impossible to further spread your paint, 
open the sheet of paper, and inside you will 
see a butterfly delicately tinted and veined, 
his wings full spread as if to alight on a 
white .clover, or other sweet-scented wild 
flower. In pressing out the paint you can 
more fully control the palette-knife, as well 
as protect the paper, if you put your fingers 



Fuji for the Household, 125 

close to the paint. Sometimes a perfect 
butterfly is thus made the first time, but with 
a little practice any one may make butter- 
flies as they will. 

Before painting commences, each artist 
should draw from a receptacle a small paper, 
which will bear a number. This paper must 
be held until the prize is given, as an inex- 
pensive prize would better be awarded to 
the one painting the most natural butterfly. 

When the one in charge calls a number, the 
one having it at once goes forward and paints 
a butterfly on a paper bearing the same 
number as the one he drew. No matter 
how many butterflies this individual may 
paint, each paper on which the painting is 
done must bear the number drawn. As 
each butterfly is painted it is placed on the 
top of a large table. When all are through 
painting, the judge w^ho has hitherto not 
been in the room, examines all of the butter- 
flies, and decides according to number who 
is entitled to the prize. Example, No. 23. 

Should there be two or more equally 
well done, those who painted them must 
each try again. The best of these is then 
awarded the prize. 



A SKATING PARTY. 

All taking part should be in costume. 
The costumes may relate to a special anni- 



126 Fun for the Household. 

versary, such as Lincoln's or Washington's 
Birthday, or a St. Valentine revel. They 
may also be simply fantastic or pretty, or 
they may recall the old Knickerbocker days. 
They^/e would have to be under the direc- 
tion of patronesses. To their decision is left 
the programme, time, place, etc. Suppose 
for example, it is Washington's Birthday 
night, some one of the number should 
represent General Washington. Other char- 
acters should be prominent Revolutionary 
heroes, as John Hancock. General Gates, 
General Lafayette, etc. Then, too, Mary 
and Martha Washington should be on skates, 
and Betty Washington, George Washington's 
sister, and other notable women of the Dec- 
laration of Independence period. But be- 
sides these, there should be Clowns and 
Dumpies. 

PROGRAMME. 

Cornet solo, followed by bugle call. En- 
ter General Washington on skates, followed 
by two valets. 

Fifteen minutes of general skating in cos- 
tume. 

A sleigh race between the most prominent 
generals, and their wives. 

Fifteen' minutes of general skating in cos- 
tume. 

A musical match between the clowns and 
dumpies. 



Fun for the Household. 127 

Fifteen minutes of general skating in cos- 
tume. 

Then all skate, the onlookers and those 
taking part, General Washington leading. 



128 Fun for the Household, 



SPECIAL FETES. 
Lincoln's birthday amusements. 

Give a sleighing party. Start immediately 
after a mid-day dinner and get home before 
the sun sets. 

Every one should attach a knot of tri- 
colored ribbon to his coat or jacket. The 
horses, sleighs and whips must be decked 
with flags and streamers. 

When on the road sing songs of free- 
dom. ''John Brown's body lies mouldering 
in the grave." ** In the beauty of the lilies 
Christ was born across the sea," etc. 

Have a snowball game. Choose sides 
and decide who can pitch the farthest. 

Balance a snowball on the end of a cane, 
and note which boy can longest keep it from 
falling. 

Try a snowshoe race by picked players. 

Make an immense snowball. When it 
can be made no larger, let three persons stand 
on the top. The tallest should stand in the 
centre and wave the flag. One of the party 
should take a snap shot at that moment, for 
future amusement. 

Arrange a skating party the day before, 
and test each one's skill on the ice — who 



Fun for the Household, 129 

can skate the most rapidly, — who can ex- 
hibit the most figures, etc. 

Give an up-to-date military tournament on 
skates. Example, America and Spain. 

' If there is neither snow, nor ice, have a 
bicycle match. Trim the bicycle with red, 
white and blue. Each rider should wear 
the same colors. The match may be simply 
a question of speed. In that case be careful 
to indicate the distance. Competent judges 
should witness the start and close of the 
race. 

All difficult questions must be decided by 
an umpire. 

ST. VALENTINE GAMES. 
A Valentine Hu7it. 

This should be given early in the evening, 
as it removes shyness and establishes good 
fellowship. 

Hide as many small valentines as there 
are children, and give five minutes to hunt 
for them. Those finding more than one 
should put the extra ones on a table, and the 
children not finding any are then blindfolded 
and allowed to draw one each. 

Rose Guess. 

Present a large rose and let each child 
guess how many petals it contains. When 
9 



130 Fun for the Household, 

all have guessed, pick the petals off, count- 
ing- them as they fall. The nearest guesser 
receives a prize. An appropriate prize would 
be a bonbon box filled with candied rose 
leaves. 

Rose Bowl Game. 

Put on a small table, a mat of pink 
crinkled tissue paper, and in the centre stand 
a cut-glass rose-bowl. The bowl should be 
covered with huge pink rose petals, made of 
paper, inverted as though the rose were held 
in the bowl, the petals all meeting in the 
green calyx, which covers the opening of the 
bowl. Through the calyx, narrow green 
ribbons representing rose stems should ap- 
pear. Each child, at a signal, should come 
to the table and draw one of the ''stems.'* 
On the end of each will be found a pink 
candy heart, and to one of these hearts will 
be fastened a tiny love-knot ring. 



The Walnufs Fortune. 

Open a quantity of walnuts in half. Into 
each walnut slip a narrow piece of paper 
which will predict the future. Slip a small 
elastic over each nut, which will prevent 
them from reopening. The boys' walnuts 
should be put in one basket, and the girls' in 
another. The girls' basket should be offered 



Fim for the Household, 131 

first. As each girl holds her hand over the 
basket she should repeat : 

" Steady, good fairy, I am wary, 
Pray let my hand make no mistake ; 
I would only the right nut take/' 

Then she puts her hand down, lifts up a 
nut, removes the elastic, and taking- out the 
paper, reads her future aloud. Example, 
''You will travel around the world. At the 
age of twenty- three you will sing before two 
thousand people." And thus the future is 
predicted in similar style for other players. 

Naming the Rcses. 

All the young people should personate 
favorite roses. Therefore, there should be 
many varieties. The parlors should have 
arches or wide doorways, through which a 
procession may readily move. 

The musicians are advised to play some- 
thing between a march and a reel, and im- 
mediately each boy signals out the girl that 
matches his rose. If more than one match, 
he asks the girl he prefers. Then, all keep- 
ing time to the music, they walk through 
the first arch or doorway, and so on to the 
second, thus in rotation going through all. 
The couples should keep about two feet 
back of each other. 

When all have passed through the last 
arch, they join hands, thus forming a circle, 



132 Fun f 07' the Household. 

and commencing with the first couple, enter 
the ring two by two. Two only being in at 
a time, when they come out, the two that 
followed them in the march enter, and so 
on. When in the circle the boy should ask 
the girl, "Which rose are you?" She an- 
swers, '* Tell me, and I'll tell you/' Very 
often his answer will be, "I don't know," 
though once in a while he will make a per- 
fect guess. When his answ^er is right, he 
asks the girl the language of her rose ; but 
if he has made a mistake, he is obliged to 
leave the girl in the ring, and stand under 
one of the arches. If the girl cannot answer 
his question, she must stand under an arch. 
If the boy leaves the ring before inquiring 
the rose's language, those forming the ring 
put the same question, and if the girl does 
not properly reply, she has to pay the same 
penalty as when not replying to the boy. 

When both questions are answ^ered cor- 
rectly, the boy and girl again join the hands 
of the others forming the circle. When 
each couple has been in and left the ring the 
game is concluded. 

Among the rosebuds and their meaning 
are : White rose-bud, girlhood ; red rose- 
bud, loveliness ; white and red together, 
unity. 

Me7noiy. 

Put a small table behind a screen. On 
this table place thirty different articles, in- 



Fun for the Household, 133 

eluding" pulverized spices, small bottles of 
liquid, books, etc. Each player is allowed 
ten seconds in which to familiarize himself 
or herself with the things on the table. 
Then each person writes a list of the things, 
titles of books, etc., from memory. The 
boy and girl whose lists are nearest perfec- 
tion receive valentines as prizes. 

Love Box. 

Present a pink silk bag to each of the 
young ladies, and ask them to take out what 
they first touch. Each will then draw a 
small pink box, inside of which will be her 
fortune written on ordinary sized note paper. 

When the young ladies have finished 
drawing, pass a red silk bag, filled with red 
boxes of a similar size, to the young men. 
Each paper in the pink boxes should be 
numbered one, two, etc. and the same with 
the red. The following are the examples of 
the fortunes. 

Whereso'er I am, below or else above you, 
Whereso'er you are, my heart shall truly love you. 
My name is John. 

You will married be 
At the age of thirty-eight, 
Or else I've made a mistake, 
And the date is far too late. 

Now you must guess my name 
Or this fortune's very tame. 



134 F'^'^ for the Household, 

Or ask questions, to be followed with ap- 
propriate answers. 

''Shall I marry Sue?" 

*' There's a rival in the case. A very rich 
and stupid fellow/' 

The Prophetic Rose, 

In an archway hang a huge rose made of 
tissue-paper of a deep red color, the petals 
being dark at the centre. The players are 
told that the darker petals belong to the 
boys, and the girls should visit the rose first. 
Each girl in turn should step toward the 
rose, and break off a petal. On the reverse 
side she may read her fortune ; for delicately 
pasted to the rose petal will be a white one, 
and on this the girl s fortune will be written. 
Everybody reads their fortune aloud, for 
all are as interested to learn the future of 
their friends as their own. When the girls 
finish, the boys follow in a similar way. 
Some of the fortunes might be : 
''Thou drawest a perfect lot." 
'* You will be wondrous happy." 
"Mistress of the Manse." 
"A curate — never slack in duty." 

Make a Vale^itine. 

This will create much merriment and 
prove equally suitable for grown-ups or 
boys and girls. 



Fun for the Household, 135 

Before the guests arrive, have ready even- 
sized pieces of water-color paper. The 
hostess should distribute these and explain 
just what should be done. Have water- 
color paints, brushes, etc., conveniently near 
every one, also a few well-sharpened lead- 
pencils might not prove amiss. Either have 
the people seated at one long table or at 
several small ones, as would be convenient. 
Ring a bell when it is time to commence. 
In thirty minutes ring again, when all must 
stop. 

As the designs should be original, no one 
must look over his neighbor's shoulder. 
The fact that some would not know how to 
paint would have nothing to do with it, as 
the entertainment is only a bit of fun and 
every one should do his part. Valentines 
allow of such diversity in decoration, from 
the extreme of the grotesque to the aesthetic 
and beautiful, that every one should be glad 
to try. Remember, a line of prose or verse 
would be an added compliment. For in- 
stance, 

Prithee tell me, Dimple chin, 
At what age does love begin ? 

might be written under the dainty portrait 
of some winsome wee thing; or. 

My love is like a red, red rose, 

might be added to the picture of a flaming 
red cabbage rose. 



136 Fun for the Household, 

When the valentines are finished they 
should be numbered, each painter retaining 
his number on a slip of paper. This done, 
gather the valentines and submit them to the 
judgment of three people to decide as to 
their merit. The painter of the best valen- 
tine should receive a prize. 

Then jumble together slips of paper on 
which are written numbers corresponding 
to the numbers of the valentines. Let each 
guest draw a slip, and present him or her 
with the corresponding valentine, which 
may be retained as a souvenir. 

The Court of the King of Hearts. 

Decide who will be king. He may ^^i 
his costume from a costumer's or wear a 
home-made robe of gold color, decorated 
all over with hearts cut out of crimson vel- 
vet, six inches long and in correct propor- 
tion. He should wear a gold crown orna- 
mented with Rhine stones, and carry a 
sceptre. There should be a throne, which 
may be a large chair placed on a raised 
platform. The throne and platform should 
be covered with gold paper, sprinkled with 
diamond dust. 

All the decorations should suggest St. 
Valentine's evening. Therefore, pink or rose 
should be the color effect, and such devices 
as Cupid's arrows, hearts, valentines should 
appear. Ask the young ladies to gown 



Fun for the Household, 137 

themselves to represent roses. Therefore 
some would wear pink ; others, white, etc. 
The gowns might further suggest the scheme 
by being trimmed with roses. The young 
gentlemen should wear rose boutonnieres. 

All the guests compose the court. 

The entertainment may be opened by 
the minuet, danced by red and white roses, 
after which the entire court enter, marching 
two by two. As they march they sing in 
honor of their king. When the first couple 
reaches the throne, the leaders separate right 
and left and turn facing each other. The 
others do likewise, keeping the distance be- 
tween regular. Last of all comes the king 
followed by two pages representing Cupids. 
The king marches between the columns, 
and finally reaches his throne. When there he 
looks smilingly over his court, and then seats 
himself. The pages stand to his right and left. 

Then the court, at a motion of the king's 
sceptre, waltz, after which the entire evening 
is spent amusing the king. He likes songs, 
and they become Singing Roses. He likes 
recitations, and the roses recite. All the 
songs and recitations must be of the heart. 
Among the recitations may be ' ' The Garden 
of Love," William Shakspeare ; ''The Day- 
Dream,'' Alfred Tennyson ; '' Telepathy," 
James Russell Lowell. 

At the close of a song the king rises, and 
waving his wand, the company cease enter- 
taining, and the Cupids, leaving the throne, 



138 Fun for the Household. 

walk side by side, and finally stop at a huge 
blackboard. Then in colored crayons they 
each draw a valentine. After which the 
King of Hearts asks each one of the company 
to do likewise. This affords much amuse- 
ment, as many of the valentines will be ex- 
ceedingly grotesque. 

When all have finished drawing, the Cupids 
return to the throne, and the king signals 
for a dance. And now a surprise. Eight 
dancers appear in heart and valentine dom- 
inoes. Each heart dances with a valen- 
tine, and thus the king continues to be 
amused. The first eight who have drawn 
valentines quietly absent themselves, and 
thus they are ready at the desired time. The 
dominoes are made out of white cheese- 
cloth, the valentines and hearts are basted 
thickly over them. 

After the dance the king should rise and 
thank the court for what has been done for 
his entertainment, after which the recession 
of the court should follow. The columns 
leading to the throne must be again formed, 
the king rises, and proceeds through the 
lines followed by his pages, and then the 
two nearest to the throne go next, and so on 
mntil all disappear. 

Washington's birthday entertainment. 

If the hostess is a girl, she should be cos- 
tumed as Lady Washington ; if she has a 



Fun for the Household, 139 

brother, his dress should be a faithful copj 
of General Washington's. The mother oi 
the young people may take the character of 
Mary Washington, mother of George. Ask 
your friends to wear an appropriate costume 
excepting that of the Washington household ; 
that family excluded, they are fancy free. 
Decorate the house with flags and bunt- 
ing ; also give an eagle prominent position. 
For evergreens use holly, and whatever 
flowers may be peculiar to the State of Vir« 
ginia. Suggest red, white, and blue in the 
supper-room. Example : Cover the dining- 
table with blue silk or bunting, and on it 
stand cakes frosted with red and white icing, 
mottoes in red and white papers, etc. Serve 
strawberry and vanilla ice-cream in blue 
dishes. Have all the confectionery red and 
white in color, and served from a blue-cov- 
ered stand. Should you not have blue china 
suitable for the confectionery, deftly cover 
white china with blue crinkled paper, and 
so preserve the colors. 

Open the evening with the flag dance. 
This is any square dance you may please. 
Immediately before it starts, present the 
dancers with a tiny American flag, and 
whenever a bow occurs, let the flags be 
triumphantly whirled. They may be re- 
tamed as souvenirs. After the dance some 
one previously selected should come into 
the parlor. He must be entirely enveloped 
in tricolor, which may be done by the use 



I40 Fun for the Household. 

of a larg.e flag, and if necessary a smaller 
one may cover the head. The question now 
is to guess, Who is this distinguished visi- 
tor ? whether it is some one of the Revolu- 
tionary period or of the present, of our own 
country, or of another. When the domino 
is removed, across his chest will be his name. 
It is George the Third, who did not feel very 
comfortable at the time of the signing of the 
Declaration of Independence. He should 
wear a crown, which is easily made from 
pasteboard, cover it with gold paper, and 
for precious stones glue on rounded buttons 
covered to suit whichever gem you may 
please — ^jasper, sapphire, diamonds, or what 
not. Whoever makes a correct guess should 
receive a gift suggestive of the occasion. A 
book about a Revolutionary hero would do, 
or any article of jewelry, suggestive of 
Washington's time. There are stickpins 
which may be used for scarfs also, that 
have the flag in colored enamel. After this, 
another dance would be in place, and fol- 
low that with games and patriotic songs. 

'' The Star-Spangled Banner," in march 
time, would be appropriate to use as the 
march to supper. 



APRIL FOOL GAMES AND TRICKS. 

It is always a question whether these 
games should or should not be played. 



Fun for the Household. 141 

Therefore I offer them with this preface as 
also a few words of advice. Be good nat- 
ured and do not take offence over other peo- 
ple's amusement at your expense. 

Never play a practical joke. 

Example, Mr. M died last night. 

Mr. M was an intimate friend of a 

party present, and as the word pronounced 
dyed is capable of two different meanings, 
one of the guests interpreted it in its saddest 
sense, and immediately fainted. Whole- 
some fun promotes laughter and good-fel- 
lowship ; indulge in it all you will, and so 
help your little world to be the merrier. 

On a pure white tidy write in distinct 
letters upside down, the words, *' April 
Fool," and get some boy to lean back against 
them. When he w^alks about the room af- 
terwards, his black jacket is decorated. 

If you have an old cane-bottom chair, 
cut the seat out, but not too close to the 
frame. Fit this nicely in and offer the seat 
to any of the larger boys or girls. Instantly 
this individual finds himself slipping down, 
but is more frightened than hurt. 

Upholster a long low box to represent a 
divan. The top should consist of neatly 
tacked down stiff brown paper, and over 
this throw a long thin rug. Suggest to two 
or three of your liveliest friends that they sit 
together on this divan. In a few moments 
the room will resound with shrieks of laugh- 
ter, for they will be seated on the floor. 



142 Full for the Household, 

Give a florist's box temptingly covered 
with tissue paper and tied up with gold cord 
to one of the guests. He will unfasten the 
cord, take off the paper, and lift the cover 
only to find nothing within. 

Should your mother or sister be expecting 
a new spring bonnet, beguile the milliner 
into letting you have one of her nicest hat 
boxes, into which you should put your three 
years' old Derby, and then watch the result. 

A questionable joke would be to send a 
party invitation to your old friend, inviting 
him to an equally old friend's house, and 
wait around to see him enter. 

Tell John or Mary there is an oat for them 
at Mr. Blank's. They thinking you have said 
''a note " immediately go to get it, and fully 
comprehend your meaning when they are 
handed a tiny package of tissue paper which 
serves as a covering to one oat and the words 
''April Fool." 

Arrange portieres so they may be drawn 
on either side of a long mirror, as window 
curtains are drawn from the centre of a 
window. Before this make an effective 
group of a number of boys and girls. The 
rear ones should stand, the ones immedi- 
ately in front should be seated on the floor. 
Above them should be written on a mirror 
these words, '' April Fools.'' When everyone 
is in place, a boy standing on the left and 
right of the mirror should draw the portieres. 

A part of the refreshments for such an 



Fun for the Household, 143 

evening should be cakes frosted with salt 
and others stuffed with cotton, oranges filled 
with sawdust, tiny blocks of wood and 
small balls of cotton, covered with chocolate, 
so simulating chocolate caramels and creams- 
Have also motto papers deftly covering little 
pebbles, and iced coffee, which will be found 
to be the most acid of iced vinegar. But do 
not let your refreshments end with such a 
menu, or good nature even with the jolliest 
would cease to be a virtue ; when a little 
fun is gotten, serve a delicious supper. 

EASTER FROLICS. 

The time for Easter amusement is during 
the week which follows Easter Day, and it 
would be a pretty idea at such a season to 
give a short tableau entertainment in con- 
nection with music and games, the tableaux 
indicating the superstitions of various coun- 
tries. 

When the tableau is shown, announce 
what it is intended to represent ; for ex- 
ample, in Russia the Easter festival might 
almost be termed the *' kissing festival," for 
beginning with the Emperor, who on Easter 
Day kisses various generals and even privates 
in his army, the singular contagion spreads 
throughout the empire, apparently affecting 
both aristocrat and plebeian. 

Tableau, — A boy representing the Russian 
Emperor kissing a member of the army. 



144 F^^'^ f^^ iJ^^ Household. 

In the olden days of France it was the 
custom for a Christian to give a Jew an 
Easter box. 

Tableau. — Two boys, one representing the 
Christian ; the other, the Jew. The Christian 
must be in the act of boxing the Jew's 
ear. 

Follow this with the France of to-day. 

Tableau. — An interior of a church, extrav- 
agantly trimmed with flowers, and brilliant 
with lighted candles. It should be crowded 
with boys and girls, mothers and fathers, all 
in brand-new clothes. 

Show Spain as a dark-haired girl, with a 
mantilla over her head, kneeling in a church 
before a mammoth candle — the Paschal can- 
dle, nine feet long. In order to make it 
seem taller, stand it on a marble pedestal. 

Rome, with a procession of gayly attired 
children, and a boy representing the Pope, 
in the most elegant of robes, carried in a 
crimson chair, over which is a canopy. 
This chair must be preceded by two boys, 
each carrying white ostrich-feather fans. 

Germany, with a group of dancing girls 
and boys, the girls wearing small, close-fit- 
ting white caps, full white aprons over dark 
gold-braided skirts and white sleeves ; the 
boys with knee-breeches, white stockings, 
showy vests and gold buttons. Or show a 
hare running from a nest filled with colored 
eggs, before which two little children kneel. 
The nest should be placed under a bush, and 



Fun for the Household. 145 

one of the children should wear a laughing 
face, for she holds up an ^gg, 

England, with a crowd of boys and girls 
returning from Hampton Court, Kew Gar- 
dens, or Stoke Pogis with their arms literally 
filled with willow-boughs and branches of 
blossoms — yellow, pink, and white — with 
which they will decorate the church for 
Easter Sunday. 

Switzerland, wuth a band of musicians 
carrying guitars, and going from house to 
house singing some sweet carol, their hats 
and caps wreathed with flowers. 

A very pretty way to amuse children of 
all ages is to hide eggs in the grass or under 
bushes, and then have an egg-hunt All 
eggs found may, of course, be carried home. 
Give five minutes for the hunt, and it will 
prove great sport for lookers-on also. 

For another game, raise a tent decorated 
with flags, cheese-cloth streamers, or rib- 
bons. Opposite the tent in which the guests 
are to be seated, and ten feet distant, is a 
post or tree on which to put a prize. At 
the base of the post put a basket of thin 
china eggs or glass balls, and also one at 
the tent door, only fill this basket with ex- 
celsior. The game is to find the person that 
will throw the largest number of eggs from 
one of the baskets into the other and not 
break them. Whoever wins is rewarded by 
the prize. 

For little children, form a ring, and pitch 
10 



146 Fun for the Household. 

to the centre of the ring a hard-boiled egg, 
and let them scramble for it. For larger 
children, let them pair off, a boy and a girl ; 
thus alternating, they form a ring. Then 
start thirteen china or glass eggs, one after 
the other, from hand to hand, taking the 
Q^^ in the right hand, passing it to the left, 
and so on round the ring. If an %g^ drops, 
it must stay where it falls until the other 
eggs have gone around the ring three times. 
It may chance by that time that all the eggs 
have dropped. When the third time around 
is complete, immediately a grand chain is 
formed, and the children dance, and go back 
to position, picking up the eggs as they 
dance. If the ^^^ is not picked up, keeping 
time to the music which is being played 
throughout the game, that person cannot 
retain it, but must give it to the one follow- 
ing. Sometimes no eggs fall, then the game 
is kept up until all the eggs have passed 
rapidly around three times. But when 
dropped and picked up, they must then go 
around once, and after this final circuit the 
game is concluded. 

Boil a dozen or more eggs in logwood of 
different strengths of dye ; they will then be 
colored violet or purple. Give these eggs, 
with a large pin or pen-knife, to young peo- 
ple to decorate. Offer a prize for the best 
decorations within fifteen minutes. 

Still another game is to knock eggs. Hold 
an ^^^ so that the small end is shown be- 



Fun for the Household, 147 

tween the forefinger and the thumb. Sit or 
stand opposite to the person with whom you 
are playing. Then knock each other s eggs. 
The knock should be swift and hard, and 
whoever s ^^^ is the first to crack must 
now be given to the opponent. When 
starting, each should have an equal number. 
Whoever has the most eggs after playing 
ten minutes has won. 



Finding the Hare, 

The hare is nothing more nor less than a 
box made in exact copy of a hare, about 
six inches long. When opened it shall be 
found full of rose-colored and rose-flavored 
confectionery. 

The company are told that a hare is hid- 
den and whoever finds it is the owner. It 
is a bewitching sight to see the merry hunt 
and great sport for those engaged. 



The Pa7'lor Egg Himt. 

Buy confectioners' eggs, which come in all 
sizes, from the ostrich size to a humming 
bird's, made of chocolate or icing, and 
trimmed with flowers or tiny ribbons. 
Hide the small eggs, and state in which 
rooms they are hidden. Allow five minutes 
for the hunt, each striving to find the 



148 Fu?i for the Household. 

most. Ring a bell to start and end the 
game. 

Ostrich Egg Search, 

This is played exactly like the thimble 
game. Put a confectioner's ostrich ^gg in 
full sight, and at a signal every one begins 
to look for it. When it is seen, the finder 
signifies the fact by sitting down, and this 
continues until all are either seated or give 
up. The hostess inquires of the first one 
who sat down where the eg^ is, and the 
answer is given in a whisper. If correct, 
it may be retained as a favor, if not, the egg 
must be drawn for. 

The hiding must be cleverly managed, so 
that while the ^gg is in sight, it is, however, 
in an unexpected spot, and where it cannot 
be handled. Then, too, there should be a 
bogus ^ZZ^ made from tissue paper, closely 
resembling the confectioner's ^ZZ* Many 
will mistake the ^gg. 



Basket Fgpy. 

Put two baskets at the end of a room, each 
basket lined with waddmg, and containing 
a dozen of eggs. Opposite these baskets 
on the other side of the room, have two 
empty ones lined in a similar manner. Two 
persons step forward, and at the ring- 



Fun for the Household. 149 

ing of a bell start to put the dozen of 
eggs, without cracking, into the empty 
basket, the one who succeeds first being 
victor. 

The Game of Cluch. 

Perhaps this is the jolliest game of all, and 
it is essentially for boys. Whoever gives 
the party should ask each of his friends to 
bring a chicken — a real live chicken — and if 
he is sure he would not recognize her when 
with a barnyard of others, he must tie a 
ribbon around her neck ; he must also bring 
some hard-boiled eggs. The court used 
should be surrounded with a high netting, 
and the centre of the court marked with a 
cross. 

At a signal all the players, each with his 
fowl in his arms, must enter the court, and 
the host, going to the centre, now becomes 
auctioneer, and taking each offered fowl in 
turn, he loudly calls, '' How many eggs am 
I bid for this chicken .? " — two eggs, three, or 
whatever the number may be ; no one must 
bid what he cannot pay, and the chicken is 
given to the boy offering the largest number, 
and the eggs are given to the previous owner 
of the chicken. He may put them where- 
ever he pleases, only they must be some- 
where within the netting. 

The sale being over, the ''cluck" com- 
mences, for it is now each one's aim to re- 



fc> 



150 Fim for the Household. 

cover his chicken, which can only be done 
by finding the requisite number of eggs 
given for her. This is much easier said than 
done, for the boys will have hidden them 
in their pockets and other peculiar places. 
Meanwhile the chickens, running in every 
direction, are very apt to ''cluck " loudly. 



The Bird's Nest, 

Put a bird's nest in a room ; hunt for it as 
you " Hunt the slipper/' only, instead of say- 
ing ''v\^arm, warmer," and so on, you cluck, 
cluck, cluck soft or loud as the party goes 
towards or from the nest. Only one person 
hunts at a time ; everybody else clucks. 



MAY-DAY FESTIVITY. 

A May-Queen party is conducted in a 
variety of ways. Very simply you ma}^ 
say : '* I am arranging for a Maying party ; 
will you come.? I shall be so glad to have 
you.'' And without further form than the 
above invitation, only mentioning the time, 
place of meeting, luncheon, etc., everything 
for a day's outdoor frolic is adjusted. 

But the correct fashion is vastly different. 
The invitation is of the same character as 
that given for any other party. The paper 
on which the invitation is engraved should 



Fun for the Household, 151 

be decorated. The decoration should be 
suggestive of the occasion — a trimmed May- 
pole, a throne for the Queen, or the Queen 
herself. Also, in the left-hand corner of the 
invitation, state the time when the tally-ho 
or carriages will start : they start from the 
house of the giver of the party. A good 
hour is ten o'clock, and the guests should 
be there ten minutes earlier. 

All Maying parties should be in charge of 
a chaperone, not only for Madame Grundy's 
sake, who would do a great deal of talking, 
but because there is then some one older 
than yourself to consult with in case of 
need, as also some one to superintend those 
who would arrange the refreshment table. 
And as this party must 

fall upon a day 
In the merry month of May. 

everybody should wear holiday attire, as, 

In the days when we went gypsying, 

A long time ago, 
The lads and lassies in their best 

Were dressed from top to toe. 

In France this day was dedicated to the 
Virgin, and the most popular girl was called 
the '* Lady of the May/' She was always 
crowned and adorned with flowers, and sat 
in state on a miniature throne made of flow- 
ers and branches, while her maids of honor 



152 Fun for the Household, 

begg-ed for money from all who passed that 
way, to be spent on the religious feast held 
later. 

And our May-Queen can have her white 
frock too, as dainty and pretty as that of 
any Parisian maiden, if she will only wear 
warm flannels underneath it. Remember, 
that though May days are oftentimes warm 
and sunny even to uncomfortableness, their 
temperature cannot be depended upon. 

The May-Queen should be arranged for 
by the giver of the party, and also her six 
maids of honor. The Queen only wears 
w^hite. The maids should wear frocks of 
different hue, and each represent a wood- 
land flower or fern. For example, rose 
pink garlanded w^ith pink rose-buds and 
roses ; baby-blue and forget-me-nots ; pale 
violet and violets ; cowslip yellow and 
cowslips ; Nile-green and maidenhair-fern, 
etc. The guests should wear flowers, and 
may or may not represent flowers, as they 
choose. Only they must wear gay attire. 
The boys might dress as gentlemen of the 
court, adopting the fashion of princes, lords, 
pages ; and do not forget the fool, with his 
cap and bells, to amuse the Queen. Or all 
may wear grotesque apparel — it is go-as- 
you-please fashion— only if the grotesque is 
decided upon, all should adopt it ; the Queen 
could personate Maid Marian, with gilt 
crown on her head, and one of the boye 
assume the character of Robin Hood. 



Fun for the Household, 153 

It would be a delight could all of these 
occasions have a May-pole, wound about 
with gay color, and long ribbon streamers 
firmly fastened at the top, which during the 
dances should be braided and unbraided 
again and again. It requires a tall straight 
tree, which should be firmly set in the 
ground, after the order of a flag-staff. The 
tallest May-pole ever set up in England 
was on the Strand, London, and was one 
hundred and thirty-four feet high. A pole 
twelve feet from the ground, however, will 
give just as much pleasure at the ordinary 
May-Queen party. Around it join hands, 
and sing any familiar English ballads, or 
songs from the opera of Robin Hood, It 
might be well to have a rehearsal of two or 
three songs beforehand, if 3^ou should be 
particular about your music at the time of 
the party. As for dances, they should be 
intermingled with the songs, waltzes, ma- 
zourkas, schottisches — any dance that you 
may know. Besides this, play one and 
another ring game, even if you are ever 
such big boys and girls. Always remember 
to pay homage to your Queen, being sure 
that she is leading. 

Whoever gives the party is of course 
responsible for refreshments, which are usu- 
ally served picnic fashion on long tables 
in the woods, near to the place where the 
games are played. The provisions should 
be carried in a separate wagon, and be kept 



154 F^^^ f^'^ ^^^^ Household. 

out of sight until it is time for lunch. The 
tables may be made very attractive by 
means of mosses, wild flowers, and grasses. 
One such table was of exquisite beauty, its 
only adornment being ferns. A border of 
them was pinned or basted all around the 
cloth, made higher at the corners. A large 
cut-glass bowl stood in the centre of the 
table, filled with maiden-hair, and two tall 
slender vases, one shorter than the other 
and filled with fine ferns and vines stood 
at irregular distances. When the refresh- 
ments are ready, the hostess must escort 
the Queen, and lead her to the position of 
honor. Next to follow should be the maids 
of honor, and the rest as they will. In 
every instance the Queen must be served 
first ; indeed, she should be shown every 
consideration. 

The Queen's throne should be erected 
near the May-pole. It is generally made in a 
sort of bower of bushes. Sometimes a large 
stone has to form the seat ; cover this with 
flowers, so that your Queen is really sitting 
in a floral chair. Make her crown before 
leaving home ; it can be cut out of paste- 
board, and covered with gilt paper, and 
when you get to the fields twine flowers 
around it ; or you may assimilate a crown 
with a wreath of wild flowers. In either 
case present it to her with great formality. 
Having led her near the throne, two of the 
boys should stand on either side of her, and 



Fim for the Household. .155 

suspend the crown between them, imme- 
diately above her head. While they are 
in this position, the hostess must step to- 
wards the Queen and say, " In the name of 
this court, we crown you Queen of May." 
The boy standing- at her right then leads 
her to the throne ; when she is seated, the 
other boy presents her sceptre, and her en- 
tire court sing a chorus previously decided. 
The girls might all carry wooden hoops, 
and having wound flowers around them, take 
them to some poor child or sick mother or 
sister on their return home, and so have the 
pleasantest sort of an ending to the May- 
Queen party. In our joy and gladness 
under the cloudless sky, on a moss-covered 
walk, with violets and other wild flowers 
at our feet, we should not forget the many 
more to whom such a party would seem 
almost as a day in Paradise. 



FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION. 

Every boy, to properly celebrate Independ- 
ence Day, should be well stocked with torpe- 
does, large and small, fire-crackers, cannon, 
and gunpowder. He should know that 
the starry flag flutters from his home, and 
that the red, white, and blue is a part of his 
attire. 

Early in the day a battalion of patriotic 
boys should march and countermarch up 



156 Fim for the Household, 

and down the principal streets, while all 
the while martial music is heard, and the 
shrill bugle call answers the exultant drum 
beat. A banner should lead such a proces- 
sion, and the Star-spangled Banner should 
triumphantly wave throughout the entire 
line. 

Jolly fun may be had in the after part of 
the day, by setting an old barn on fire. 

Very often the boys' fathers or uncles own 
a barn that they would rather have out of the 
way than not, and the Fourth of July is the 
most appropriate time in the entire year 
for a conflagration. When a barn is to be 
fired, be sure that it is carefully prepared be- 
forehand, with a coating of tar and long 
w^isps of tarred paper, and the boys cannot 
be too cautious not to get on fire them- 
selves. 

Should boys not be successful in finding 
a barn to burn up, perhaps they could find 
a dead tree on a friend's vacant lot. A tree 
would make a perfect tower of flame, and 
could be seen for miles around. It, too, will 
blaze all the fiercer if you apply a coating of 
pitch. Those engaged in this sport should 
wear their oldest clothing, in order not to 
make themselves a nuisance to their mothers 
and sisters or thoughtlessly waste their 
fathers' money. 

Perhaps some of the boys would like a 
receipt for a powerful noise. It is simple 
enough — nothing but chlorate of potash and 



Fun for the Household, 157 

sulphur mixed ; you should put several 
pieces of paper around it, though, and ham- 
mer it down as heavy as you can. 



HALLOWE EN GAMES AND TRICKS. 

The Nut Trick. 

The shell must be prepared before the 
performance. Remove the kernel by boring 
a hole, or opening the nut at one end. Take 
out the contents by the aid of a lady's hat- 
pin, and instead of the kernel, slip in a short 
piece of scarlet-colored baby-w^idth ribbon. 
Then putty or wax the opening over, and 
color the putty or wax with a dye, cray- 
on, or paint, the exact shade of the nut. 
The nut being thus prepared, you may now 
lay it on the table before your friends, and 
present a bunch of many-colored ribbons of 
the same width and length to them. Ask 
that some one select any piece he chooses ; 
you must have a don't-care air, as though it 
didn't make any difference to you which 
piece was chosen. While, on the contrary, 
you care so much, that should a wrong se- 
lection be made you must at once tell an 
interesting story, which w^ill help your 
friends to forget that the ribbon has already 
been selected, and you should make use of 
this opportunity to offer the ribbons over 
again. This time the selection will likely 



158 Fun for the Household, 

be correct. It would be wise to have the 
majority of pieces of ribbon the color of the 
piece in the nut, as that color would catch 
the eye first and stand a better chance of 
being taken. 

The right ribbon now being chosen, make 
a great point of looking at it ; hold it up at 
arm s length, so that all the audience may 
see it. Then ask the party who made the 
selection to put it back in the bunch with 
the others and mix them all up to please 
himself. When he has finished, face the 
bunch of ribbons, and loudly repeat, three 
times over, ''Ribbon, go into the nuf 
Then ask your friend to go forward and 
take the little hammer which he will find on 
the table and crack the nut open. When 
the nut is opened, sure enough inside is a 
scarlet ribbon. 

Burn a Lady^s Handkerrhief, but Return it Whole 
Again. 

This requires a tin cylinder about eight 
inches in diameter and twelve inches in 
height. Into this put a perfectly fitting tin 
vessel, which is divided strictly in half. 
When this vessel is slid inside of the cylin- 
der the whole does not look unlike a canis- 
ter with a cover at each end. Having the 
handkerchief, hold it so that everybody sees 
it, and talk fluently, keeping the body con- 
stantly in motion ; indeed, making so many 



Fun for the Household, 159 

motions that no one has noticed that you 
have packed this handkerchief in the upper 
division of the tin vessel, and that, as you 
are walking towards the candle, you have 
turned the cylinder upside down, and that 
also the handkerchief you are now holding 
is really not a handkerchief at all, but a thin 
piece of muslin you have prepared to simu- 
late a handkerchief. Pour on it a few drops 
of alcohol, which will help it to burn even 
more rapidly ; tear it, if you think it more 
effective. When the owner thinks that her 
handkerchief is forever destroyed, cleverly 
manage to invert the cylinder, take out the 
handkerchief, shake it well, holding it so 
that all the audience sees that it is not even 
scorched, and then return it to the lady. 



The Bowl Trick, 

Fill a tiny tumbler wHh water and cover 
it with a bowl. Then state you will drink 
the water in the tumbler underneath with- 
out moving the bowl. 

Of course the company do not believe you, 
and you ask all to turn their backs, or close 
their eyes, if they will promise not to look, 
until one of the party counts ten. Immedi- 
ately they have turned their backs, or closed 
their eyes, you pick up another glass of 
water and hastily swallow a few mouthfuls. 
They hear the sound, but no one can look 



i6o Fun for the Household, 

until ten is counted. By that time the glass 
from which you drank is hidden again, and 
the company catch you wiping your moist 
lips. Undoubtedly one of the number will 
be so suspicious that he will lift the bowl to 
see, and then is your opportunity, for you 
at once pick up the glass and drink, saying, 
as you put it down, '' / didn't touch the 
bowl." 

An Impossible Jump, 

Take a gentleman's hat, and, turning it 
around so that every one sees it, ask your 
friends whether, if you put it on the floor, 
they could jump over it. Of course they 
will answer, "Yes.*' Then stand it close 
to the wall, and tell them not to all try at 
once, but take their turn to jump. 



Turn a Goblet Upside Down Without Spilling the 
Water. 

Fill a glass goblet so as not to allow any 
water to drop over the edge. Cover the top 
with a piece of paper ; on the paper put your 
hand, and turn the goblet rapidly over ; then 
remove the hand. The upward pressure of 
the air will prevent the water from spilling. 

The Hat Omelet. 

Everybody who enjoys tricks is no doubt 
familiar with this. It is very easy to do. 



Fun for the Household. i6i 

First state that you are about to make an 
omelet. Then break three eggs into the 
hat, and appear to add a little milk and 
flour, after which shake all together and hold 
the hat over a lighted lamp, candle, or gas. 
After a few moments lift out the hot flaky- 
omelet and pass it to your friends ; otherwise 
they will think they have been deceived. 

The secret is, the omelet was cooked on 
the range, and was in the hat when you 
commenced to exhibit the trick, the hat be- 
ing held too high for the audience to see 
inside. The eggs were not full, only the 
shells, the contents having been previously 
drawm through a tiny aperture at one end. 
Laugh and talk a great deal and it will not 
be noticed that you do not put in the corn- 
starch and milk ; also let a real ^^^ drop, 
as if by accident, on a plate standing on the 
table before you, or let a tablespoon or 
knife fall. This will attract all eyes and 
further prevent discovery. As in other 
tricks, you should practise it before show- 
ing it to your friends. 



The Wonderful Carafe. 

An empty carafe is brought by your con- 
federate. This you should rinse and drain 
in the presence of your audience, in order to 
satisfy them that there is really no mistake, 
that the carafe is positively empty. After it 
II 



1 62 Fun for the Household. 

has well drained, dry it, wiping it around 
with the greatest care. In the towel which 
your confederate brought you he also 
brought a bladder, in which was a weak 
preparation made up of spirits of wine, 
sugar, and water. In this way the carafe is 
filled without the audience detecting. The 
glasses are already in position, and in each 
one has been put a drop or two of flavor- 
ing extract, such as pineapple, lemonade, 
orange, peppermint. The magician then 
inquires if any one would like a glass of 
lemonade, and being answered in the af- 
firmative, he pours the same from the carafe 
by filling the glass in which the drops of 
lemonade extract have been placed. In like 
manner he will give a glass of orangeade, or 
whatever drink corresponds to the extract in 
the glasses. 



The Vanishing Ten-cent Piece. 

Put this coin in the palm of your hand and 
take pains to let everybody see it. Then 
state that if any one of the audience will 
call out, ''Vanish," it will disappear. 

The reason why is because the nail of 
your middle finger is covered with white 
wax, and closing the hand forcibly the coin 
instantly fastents itself to it. You must then 
open the hand wide and show that the ten- 
cent piece has really gone. 



Fun for the Household, 163 

The tricks now beingf over, the audience 
rose to congratulate their young entertainers 
and also to exchange a few words with one 
another, and in so doing many of them did 
not discover that refreshments w^ere about 
to be served until they were asked to take 
seats at the small tables that had most mys- 
teriously appeared. 

The refreshments were very simple, being 
only vanilla and strawberry rolled wafers 
and delicious tea. The tea was, of course, 
poured into the prettiest of Japanese cups, 
and carried on richly decorated trays, on 
which were laid divers colored Japanese 
napkins, while the graceful, cordial, Japan- 
ese-robed young girls added an indescrib- 
able charm. 

And thus closed this dainty, interesting 
entertainment amid the pleasant chatter of 
the happily seated, congenial company. 



Blindfolded Prophecy. 

Should you be in the country on All Hal- 
lowe'en, one of the party should be blind- 
folded and sent into the kitchen garden, of 
course using every security against accident. 
The person sent must pull up a vegetable, 
and without shaking off the dirt from the 
roots, bring it back with him. Should it 
have a great quantity of mould hanging to 
its roots, that is a sure sign whoever has it 



164 Fun for the Household, 

will make a wealthy marriage. If, on the 
contrary, there is but little mould, he will 
make a poor marriage. If the vegetable is 
tall and w^ell shapen, this proves he will 
marry a tall, beautiful girl. If, however, the 
vegetable is short and crooked, he will 
marry a short and homely girl. If a vege- 
table is brought in without any roots, the 
person bringing it will be a bachelor or old 
maid. 

Care should be taken in the playing of 
this game to prevent the house and clothing 
from getting dirty ; therefore be watchful 
and hold the vegetable you bring at arm's 
length. 

The best place to decide the vegetable's 
shape, mould, etc., would be in the kitchen, 
or on the piazza. If the latter is enclosed, 
lamps could be carried out there, if not, 
possibly the light from the windows and 
hall way would be sufficient ; or try a lan- 
tern. 

The Divining Mirror. 

Hold an unpeeled apple in the right hand 
and a lighted candle in the left, while you 
stand in an empty, unlighted room before a 
mirror. 

Then you must eat the apple and watch 
sharp, for you are to see your future hus- 
band's or wife's face in the mirror. The 
face will appear over your left shoulder. 



Fun for the Household, 165 

This game is also part trick, as fairy folk 
are apt to be famous tricksters and therefore 
not very trustworthy, especially if it is after 
dark. 

One of the boys will likely have stolen 
back of you, disguised with a false face. 
He has reached you on his hands and 
knees, and when all of a sudden he rises, 
you w^ill be so startled that it will be an 
easy matter for him to escape without de- 
tection. Or a girl could do the same as a 
boy. 

In order to more fully cover one's tracks, 
it would be well for the tricking player to 
blow out the candle as he appears over the 
shoulder. This, too, will partly conceal the 
features, for puckered lips and eyes fixed 
steadily on the flame will not look natural. 



The Tuvibler Test, 

Fill three tumblers wnth water. One must 
hold blue w^ater, such as the laundress uses 
for clothes, another must hold soapy water, 
and another clear water, w^hile still another 
must be empty. These tumblers should stand 
on a table directly before the individual who 
is to be blindfolded. After he is blindfolded, 
change the position of the glasses, placing one 
w^here the other one stood, and so on. Then 
instruct the party to dip his fingers into one 
of the tumblers. Having felt around, his 



1 66 Fun for the Household. 

fingers are dipped into the clear water, and 
thus he learns that he is to marry a beauti- 
ful rich girl. Had he dipped into the soapy- 
water, it would have meant that he would 
marry a poor widow ; if in the blue water, 
he would be a noted author ; if in the empty 
glass, he would die a bachelor. This game 
is played in the same way with the girls, 
only, of course, changing the sex, as, 
for example, marrying a rich, handsome 
man. 



The Penknife Trick. 

Before leaving the room state that while 
you are away any one may place a pen- 
knife where he may please, and without any 
word being spoken you will find it. 

Of course you have a confederate, who 
remains behind and notices where the knife 
has been put. 

When you enter, walk towards one of the 
corners in the room ; if your confederate is 
looking up, you will know you are in the 
right corner, but if he is looking down you 
must try another. If you notice he is not 
looking up when you have tried all the 
corners, then walk towards the centre of the 
room, and between the corners ; at one of 
these points he will raise his eyes. In this 
way, you will get the location. You must 
then diligently search, and when your con- 



Fun for the Household, 167 

federate lets something- drop on the floor you 
will know you are very close to the penknife. 
Sometimes it is in a person's pocket ; for that 
reason watch just the moment when your 
friend has given you the clue. Possibly your 
hand may be on some one's shoulder ; this 
would indicate to search that person. 



Ball Trick. 

A girl must take a ball of rose-colored 
worsted and toss it out in the garden as far 
as she can. She must be careful, however, 
not to lose hold of the end of the worsted. 
Then she should walk up and down the 
parlor or piazza, winding the worsted up ; 
as she walks she sings, 



Who holds my thread ? Who holds my clue ? 
For he loves me and I him too. 



All of a sudden, if the game is properly 
played, the worsted will refuse to come. 
If the worsted breaks in her exertion to 
wind it, she will never marry ; but she 
should keep firm hold and wind slowly, and 
in time will thus surely reach the person who 
has caught the other end. This individual 
is to be her future husband. Generally the 
** husband" part is a trick, for some one 
will hold the worsted that she would never 
marry ; for example, a boy many years her 



1 68 Fu7i for the Household. 

junior, or her old grandfather, or brother. 
This game being played for the same reason 
as many another, '' only for fun." 



The Fortune Apple, 

On several pieces of wood, thin as paper, 
write, in ink or paint, girls' names. Slip 
each name into an apple. This set will do 
for the boys ; make similar ones for the 
girls. Fill three portable tubs with water, 
and set an even number of apples floating 
in each tub. Fasten the arms of three boys 
securely back, and cover them entirely with 
water-proof cloaks. Lead each boy to a 
tub and ask him to repeat distinctly. 

Witches and wizards and birds of the air, 
Goblins and brownies, all lend me your care, 
Now to choose wisely for once and for all, 
And ever your names in praise loudly I'll call. 

Then each boy must put his head down 
and try to catch in his teeth an apple. In 
it hell find the name of one of the girls 
present, and she will be his fate. If the 
name is a strange one, there will even then 
be teasing enough for him. After the boys 
have all tried the game, then it is time for 
the girls. 

Lead a girl up to a tub and blindfold her ; 
lead her around while she repeats the rhyme. 



Fufi for the Household. 169 

and with the words ''loudly I call/' she 
must bend down and try to catch m one 
hand an apple or, if she prefers, she may 
try to spear an apple with a fork. If the 
latter way, only one drop of the fork will 
be allowed. If it sticks far enough in an 
apple not to fall altogether, her fate is sure. 



The Money-Maker, 

This is one of the large number of trick 
games, and like all the others it is very easy 
when you know how. It is played by two 
people, both of whom understand the trick, 
and it should be the effort of the company 
to discover as soon as is possible what that 
trick is. When the trick is discovered the 
game is simple. To prove that you know 
it, you should take the place of one of the 
players. If the game then goes on satis- 
factorily you are out, but the others remain 
in until they either give up or learn the 
secret also. 

The money-maker leaves the room and 
on his return his confederate will ask him 
questions. His answer will prove to the 
company that he understands which busi- 
ness, trade or profession they have decided 
he must enter in order to make money. 

The secret is easy to discover if you are 
on the alert ; it is the first business named 
after a question which has commenced with 



I/O Fun for tJie Household. 

the letter O or which contains the exclama- 
tion oh ! Example : 

The company have decided that the 
one who has left the room must be a pub- 
lisher. 

'' Will you be an organ grinder? '* 

*^No, I thank you/' 

*' Will you be a physician ? " 

*' I would not like night work.'' 

*' IIow would you like farming.?" 

*'Not at all." 

'' Oh, I know ! you'd like to be a tailor." 

^'But I know I wouldn^" 

*' Well, will you be a publisher.?* " 

*^Just the thing." 



CHRISTMAS JOLLITY. 
The Ytile Log. 

Young people should costume themselves 
in grotesque apparel. They may be Twelfth 
Night characters, Viola, Olivia, Sir Andrew 
Aguecheek, Sir Toby, Sebastian, sea-cap- 
tains, lords, priests, officers, musicians, etc., 
or assume any disguise indicative of 
Christmas. 

Early in the evening, several of the com- 
pany should disappear, but with great 
hilarity return, drawing in the Yule log. 
This is nothing more or less than a rugged 
log. Knotted at each end with long strong 



Fun for the Household, 171 

ropes, by which it is pulled. As the young- 
people draw it they should sing, 

Welcome be ye that are here, 
Welcome all and make good cheer ; 
Welcome all another year, 
Welcome Yule. 

This verse should be sung- over and over 
until the Yule log lies on the hearthstone. 



CJu'istmas Pie. 

Two people, each wearing interesting cos- 
tume, and with masked faces, walk in, roll- 
ing before them on a wheelbarrow an enor- 
mous pie. It is made after the fashion of a 
Jack Horner pie, being in a deep dish cov- 
ered with diamond-dusted white paper, with 
tiny ribbons exposed. 

The first performance is to roll the pie all 
around the room, and then to the centre, 
where they will sing. 

Who'll have a bird from this Christmas pie ? 
Whoever guesses me may answer I. 

For a few minutes all the company keep 
quite still, then the guessing commences ; 
when the correct names are mentioned, the 
couple unmask, and at once the correct 
guesser draws a ribbon. He will find on 
the end of it a candy bird, — perhaps a robin 



172 Fun for the Household. 

redbreast made of candy and stuffed with 
sugarplums. As soon as the bird is drawn, 
one of the parties who has rolled in the 
wheelbarrow imitates a bird-song on a har- 
monica. This is easily effected without dis- 
covery, as everybody's attention is directed 
to what has been drawn. 



Tableaux Vivants. 

A catchy tableau series would be Mother 
Goose and her children celebrating Christ- 
mas. 

Tableau First. — Mother Goose in her tall, 
cone-shaped hat, riding on an enormous 
goose. Copy her and all the other cos- 
tumes from Mother Goose's book. 

Tableau Seco7id, — Her children faithfully 
charactered. Little Jack Horner should be 
sitting in a corner, eating his Christmas pie. 
The King in his parlor should be dressed to 
represent a king. Simple Simon should 
meet a pieman going to the fair, etc. 

Tableau Third, — A sleeping apartment, 
Mother Goose and her family in bed. 
Great prominence must be shown to Moth- 
er Goose, whose bed is in front, and near 
her some of her more notable children. 
This scene may be readily arranged by put- 
ting small cots on the stage ; the children 
can lie down dressed, the coverlets hiding 
their clothing. Near each bed put that which 



Fun for the Household. 173 

would indicate their character^ as example, 
the bigf pie for the pieman. 

Tableau Fourth. — Santa Claus at home 
about time to start. Interior of a room, 
simply packed with all sorts of hobby- 
horses, dolls — big and little, dressed and 
undressed — musical birds, woolly sheep, 
sleig-hs, drums, tenpins, everything in the 
toy line that could be imagined or described ; 
while in a large easy-chair before the lighted 
grate-fire sits old Santa himself, as gray- 
bearded, fat, and jolly as ever. 

Tableau Fifth.— IaWXq Bo-Peep fell fast 
asleep and dreamed — 

Show Santa Claus again, this time out-of- 
doors, on his sled drawn by swift reindeer ; 
but the reindeer have stopped, for Bo-Peep 
stands before them, her shepherd's crook 
leaning over her shoulder, her sheep all 
around, and they, as also Bo-Peep, gazing 
at the presents — sled, Santa Clauses pack, at 
hat, beard, miniature tree, full stockings, and 
all. Bo-Peep wears a regular shepherdess 
costume, the sheep are toy sheep on wheels. 
The bells should jingle loudly until Bo-Peep 
appears. 

Tableau Sixth. — The Christmas tree. 

A large tree filled with toys ; leaning 
against it is a ladder, which Mother Goose 
climbs, and then unfastens the various gifts. 
Her children are all grouped around the 
bottom, and impatiently await the arrival 
of their presents. 



174 ^^^^ y^^ ^'^^ Houseliold. 

Tableau Seventh, — The Christmas dance. 

Mother Goose and her children dance 
around the Christmas tree. Waltz music is 
played ; they dance once around, when the 
curtain is drawn. 

Tableau Eighth, — Mother Gooses children 
eating their Christmas supper. A long table 
covered with a white cloth, and decorated 
with lighted candelabra, flowers, bonbons, 
fancy cakes, china, silver, and cut glass. 
All the children are seated around, Mother 
Goose at the head, and to her right her son 
Jack, then Jack's wife, then a boy, then a girl, 
and so on around. Each child is in the act of 
eating, drinking, lifting a cup, a candy, or 
indicating some natural movement at a sup- 
per table ; their heads should be turned as 
though they were in conversation. 

Tableau Ninth, — Mother Goose and her 
family in a well-arranged group now stand 
and sing a jolly good-night song. This 
song may be acted by those on the stage, 
but the singing is done by an unseen chorus. 

Follow this with two tableaux, opposite 
in meaning. 

Tableau One, — The empty stocking. A 
poverty-stricken looking room — bare floor, 
a hard-wood chair and table (on the table 
stand a few pieces of cheap china), a win- 
dow with a broken pane, in which a bunch 
of paper or canton matting is stuffed to keep 
out the snow ; a small kerosene lamp, the 
light from which comes dimly. A poorly 



Fun for the Household. 175 

clad and as poorly fed appearing little girl ; 
one of her thin hands rests on the table, 
while the other holds an empty stocking, on 
which the child sadly gazes. 

Tableau Two, — Bless you honey-bugs! 
Yo' feels gay. 

This also is a plainly furnished room, but 
it is trimmed with Christmas greens, a large 
star and tree being particularly conspicuous. 
There are several colored children running 
around, some dancing, with toys in one 
hand and a full stocking in the other, others 
taking things off a little tree, others again 
eating sugarplums, or striding across the 
bare floor in eager pursuit of a dropped 
cornucopia or cinnamon cake. Their dusky- 
faced mammies, meanwhile, laugh at them 
through the half-open doorway. 

And thus tableau might be described after 
tableau. But a few hints may be helpful. 

Carefully study scenic effect. ''How 
beautiful ! '' is so often the exclamation re- 
garding a well-dressed stage, even before 
any person appears or one word is spoken. 
Remember to use harmonizing colors, and 
to throw on different-colored lights. The 
latter may cost a little money, but it will 
repay a hundredfold. A white light chang- 
ing to pink, again to yellow, rose or green, 
as the scenery may require. In every way 
catch the eye. 

Remember, the tableau is but for a min- 
ute ; let that minute be perfection. 



176 Fttn for the Household. 

Sometimes, for example, let a fountain 
play in the large grounds or garden. This 
can be easily arranged by the proper man- 
agement of a hose. You can surely place 
a piece of oilcloth under the moss over 
which the water flows, and have sponges 
conveniently near. 

Be careful to select pretty and noticeable 
toilettes. If you are taking the character 
of a queen at a drawing-room, dress as the 
queen, not as her maid ; but should you be 
a maid, wear jaunty, gay attire, and do not 
costume yourself in a severely cut brown- 
cloth tailor suit. 

Use all the accessories possible — music, 
song, recitation, as either may be given off 
the stage as an accompaniment to a tableau. 
Be sure there is no catch in the stage cur- 
tain, and that the prompter understands all 
his duties. Every one should be punctual 
at rehearsals ; and the night of the entertain- 
ment all the cast should be ready thirty 
minutes ahead of time, as that will prevent 
worry and nervousness. And if everybody 
is calm, and understands his part, there is 
no question as to success. 

'* The Birds' Christmas Carol " would make 
a pleasing tableau. 

The Annunciation, 

The angel greets the Virgin mild ; 
Hail, Mary, full of grace ! thy child 
The Son of God shall be. 



Fun for tJie Households 177 

This tableau represents an interior : the 
room has a deep frieze drapery over the 
mantel, before which Mary kneels on a low 
cushion ; to her left, and considerably be- 
fore her, is a large jardiniere filled with as- 
cension lilies ; and directly before her is a 
table, on which is a roll of parchment partly 
unfastened. By the table stands the angel 
with hands outstretched towards her. 

Tableau Second. — The shepherds see the 
angels bright. 

Scene out of doors, with shepherds in their 
usual costume, each shepherd holding a 
crook, w^hile back of them, huddled close to- 
gether, stand the herds of sheep. Before the 
shepherds, and a trifle to their right, is the 
angel, with outstretched hands, indicating 
the way. 

BIRTHDAY IDEAS. 
A Birthday Picnic, 

A pleasant number is twenty. Ten girls 
and ten boys. 

Be driven to the destination in large market 
or hay wagons made festive with flags. 
Each girl should bring luncheon enough for 
herself and one of the boys. And the boys 
should be responsible for the outfit for games, 
such as ropes, archery, grace hoops, tennis 
net, balls and racquets. 

If you are not going to a regular picnic 
12 



178 Fun for the Household. 

ground, you will require tables. Therefore 
borrow five cutting tables from your mothers 
and these can be folded and put in the bot- 
tom of the wagon, and four persons can 
easily sit at each. The boys can arrange 
the seats, which might be the wagon seats 
built to the requisite height by supporting 
each end on a pile of stones, or convenient 
rocks may be chosen, or take the rails from 
the post-and-rail fence adjoining. Only in 
that case, remember to put them back again. 

Use plated spoons, forks, etc. , so as to save 
worry, and Japanese napkins, which may 
do double duty, as they make pretty table- 
cloths, and there is no fuss about having to 
carry them home. If you take sandwiches, 
wrap them neatly in white tissue or waxed 
paper. Use thin wooden platters instead 
of china, and no one will be afraid of chip- 
ping them ; besides they are so light, and 
after luncheon they, as also the napkins and 
tablecloths, may be burned up, if you are 
careful not to set the woods on fire. 

You might find it pleasant to put the 
lunches, wraps, etc., in one wagon, and have 
all the picnickers in the other. Trusty driv- 
ers for both wagons will be necessary. 

After the lunch is over and cleared away, 
games and races will be the order of the 
day. 

But don*t forget you must be home by 
sundown. When all have bundled into the 
wagons to return, let song follow song. 



Fun for the Household, 179 

One of the big boys might act as director 
of the chorus. 

A Birthday Floral Ball, 

The entire house, including the halls, 
should be trimmed with asparagus and Jap- 
anese lanterns. From the drawing-room 
ceilings suspend inverted cones of aspara- 
gus, and as pendants from these fasten 
Japanese lanterns. String evergreens around 
the stair banisters and halls. Indeed, make 
of your house, including the dining-room, a 
sort of fairy bower, on which the Japanese 
lanterns at happy intervals, cast light and 
color. 

The orchestra should be hidden in a tiny 
forest, and their music should be jolly, light 
and pretty. Among the numbers have the 
"Dance of the Flowers,'' by Tschaikowsky. 
Follow this with several flower dances. 
Example, '^The Sweet Peas Waltz." The 
girls' costume should be white tarletan, 
effectively trimmed with sweet peas. The 
boys should have sweet pea boutonnieres. 

The Pansy Cotillion. For this dance wear 
crepe lisse, tarletan, — indeed any flimsy 
material you choose, but it must be of one 
of the pansy colors ; and as the pansy has 
so many shades of brown, yellow, purple, 
deep rose, etc. , the variety which would 
mingle, as the several figures are given, 
would result in a kaleidoscopic effect of 
color and beauty. 



l8o Fun for the Household. 

Perhaps a few solo dances could be ar- 
ranged. If so have a Cowslip dance, when 
the little maiden should be frocked in pale 
yellow, or the Heliotrope, with a frock of 
lilacs. Another might dance the Forget- 
me-not, and wear a gown of blue. 

While still another dance might be termed 
the Water-Lily, which would necessitate a 
frock of white and gold, as the blue and 
pink water-lilies are comparatively rare. 
Whichever flower is represented should be 
worn, either on the hair or dress. 

Then should come the Wild Flower Minuet 
when daisies, buttercups, clover, chicory, 
violets, honeysuckle, and other wild flowers 
could vie with each other in the stately 
graceful movements. Follow the minuet 
with the Butterfly promenade and dance. 
In this a large number should engage, as it 
is quite proper there should be butterflies 
flitting from flower to flower. Any dance 
may be appropriated to the butterflies, but 
they should select their own partners from 
any of the flowers they please. The butter- 
flies will wear almost as many colors as 
the pansies, and silver, gold or other butter- 
flies should be fastened on the shoulders or 
on other parts of their costume. 

A Birthday Matinee. 

The afternoon may be made perfectly fas- 
cinating by giving a birthday matinee. A 



Fun for the Household, i8i 

young lady should costume herself as Little 
Buttercup of Pinafore fame. Wear a large 
hat, grotesquely ornamented, short parti- 
colored skirts, and above all things carry a 
well-filled market basket. She should sing 
Little Buttercup's song, and also act and 
dance. As the whole thing is a burlesque, 
it need not be correctly done, only be sure 
to get some graceful girl to take the part, 
and one who will bring out the laughter by 
her bits of humor here and there. If the 
party is for children, the basket should con- 
tain inexpensive toys, and when singing, 
'Tve ribbons and laces, to set off your 
faces," waltz up to a group of children and 
distribute the toys. Continue this when 
singing the chorus, as also during the play- 
ing of the interludes, until each child has a 
gift. Should the party be for older people, 
instead of toys give suggestive presents. 
Example, a whip to a horsewoman, or a tiny 
pair of oars to a rower. The music is from 
the opera Pinafore and can be purchased or 
mailed from almost any bookstore. When 
people are through laughing over this part of 
the programme, tell them that confectioners' 
buttercups are hidden in the drawing-room, 
library and hall ; that they are in three col- 
ors, — violet, white, and pink, — and that all 
of the guests are expected to hunt for them ; 
that a bell will be rung as a signal to com- 
mence the hunt, and in like manner to close 
it : that five minutes time will be allowed. 



1 82 Fun for the Household. 

Three prizes will be awarded ; the first to 
be given to the finder of the most pink 
buttercups, the second to the one finding the 
greatest number of buttercups adding all the 
colors together, the third to the one finding 
the few^est. Should any one be so unfortu- 
nate as not to find any, his penalty will be to 
pay a forfeit. If this individual is a musician, 
his forfeit should be a song or an instru- 
mental solo, or shouldhe be a recitationist, he 
must read or recite, ifneither of these, require 
him to put himself through a key-hole. This 
is done by writing the word '^himself" on 
a small piece of paper, rolling it over until 
still smaller and slipping it through the key- 
hole. You will require two pounds of butter- 
cups, dividing that amount in the colors men- 
tioned. Roll each candy separately in tissue 
paper, corresponding in color, and hide w^ith 
care. If for a children's party, place bric-a- 
brac and all breakable articles beyond their 
reach, and direct the little people so as to 
avoid accidents. 



BIRTHDAY TABLEAUX. 
Tulips. 

Group the children so that they look 
pretty. They could wear green clothes to 
represent stalk and leaves, and have large, 
colored-paper petals fastened to their waists, 



Full for the Household, 183 

and with wire shaped and bent upward they 
would look like veritable tulips. Then a 
few others could, in a previous tableau, show 
the act of planting- tulip bulbs and watering 
some growing- tulips. 



The CotiUo7i. 

Eight girls and boys should be dressed in 
Knickerbocker attire, and stand as if ready 
for the first figure of the Cotillon. 

This tableau should be set in a drawing- 
room. 

Flitting Fairies ajid Btitterfiies, 

Gay music is heard and in come the fairies 
dancing, followed by a train of dancing 
butterflies, costumed in red, yellow, and 
white. 

The wings may be of tinted crepe paper 
or tarletan held in place by stiff wire. 

The fairies should wear short fluffy gowns 
of airy gossamer, heavily covered with 
spangles and diamond dust. With each 
movement they must glimmer and glisten. 

The scene may be set in any pretty draw- 
ing room, but more properly with a back- 
ground of palms and potted plants. 



184 Fun for the Household. 



METHODS OF CHOOSING PARTNERS. 

Pass baskets of flowers to the ladies. 
Enough bunches have been prepared and 
laid in the baskets for each one of the ladies. 
On a tray are bunches of leaves and vines ; 
pass these to the men. 

The leaves will match the flowers, as a 
bunch of pansies will have a corresponding 
bunch of pansy leaves, a bunch of lilies of 
the valley its bunch of lily leaves, etc., etc. 
Where roses are used, a bud matching the 
rose may be put with the leaves, or better, 
the ribbon tying a bunch of rose leaves, 
might match the rose it is supposed to go 
with. Of couse, the pansy-leaf man will 
hunt out the lady with pansies ; and the 
lily-leaf man, the maid with the lilies. 

Take bristol-board and cut it in small 
pieces, the size and shape of large rose 
petals. Tint these pink with a bit of yellow 
on the narrow end, where the petal is sup- 
posed to have left the rose. Write in gilt 
paint on each of them a word, any noun, 
verb, adjective, etc. Then bend and twist 
in the fingers until they look like veritable 
Katherine Mermet or La France petals. 
Have enough so that each girl invited may 
have one. 



Fun for the Household. 185 

Take more bristol-board and make deep 
red petals ; on these write with gilt paint a 
part of speech, noun, verb, adverb, etc. 
Make enough to supply each man. 

These at the time of entertainment should 
be passed just before you wish the partners 
chosen. Then the man whose petal reads 
adverb will seek among the pink-petaled 
girls until he finds an adverb. 

Of course, in a large company there will 
be several nouns and several adverbs. 
But the noun man will of course offer his 
arm to the first pink noun he finds. Be sure 
to have the petals match. If you must have 
five red petals reading verb, he sure to have an 
equal number of pink verb petals, e. g. pink 
petals reading play, dance, sing, ru7i, talk. 

Have two baskets, one knotted with pink 
ribbon and the other with red. These 
baskets should each contain paper hearts, , 
about three inches long, and wide in propor- 
tion. The hearts may be suspended by 
means of narrow pink satin ribbons, and 
each heart is slightly decorated with water- 
color paints. In the same basket no two 
hearts are alike, but their duplicates are 
found in the other basket. When the dupli- 
cates are found, partners are decided. 



Have two bags of walnuts. One is to be 
passed to the girls, the other to the boys. 



1 86 Fun for the Household. 

To each walnut a tiny slip of paper has been 
glued, on which half of a familiar quotation 
is written. One half of the quotations are 
in the girls' bag, the other half in the boys/ 
The girl's bag is passed first. When the 
boy is able to complete his quotation, he 
discovers his partner. 



When an equal number of boys and girls 
are present, for example, i^n each, mark ten 
slips of paper according to the numerals, i, 
2, and so on. Then throw them into a bag 
and jostle them together. After which pass 
to the girls. They should each draw one 
paper. 

When the girls have drawn, offer slips 
of paper in the same manner to the boys, 
who will draw likewise. Corresponding 
numbers are partners. 



Fun for the Household, 187 



TANGLES AND FORFEITS. 

TANGLES. 

Charades. 

When I go gunning 

I'm very bright. 

And it's my delight 

To keep good sight. 

When I go fishing 

I like to hook, 

And when I sift 

A pretty book, 

I help our seamstress and our cook, 

Then all around the room I look 

And think of ail IVe undertook. 

Second. 

Tm beating America, 

So folks say, 

As through the air 

My horses tear, 

And snap, snap, snap, 

I cannot hold them back. 



Fun for the Household. 

Whole. 

Black and sweeping, 
Swimming- and weeping, 
So wet, so tender. 
Sometimes the scorning oft 
Others the sorrow oft, 
Lifting so joyfully, 
Drooping so coyly. 

My first shouts freely in, 

My second's a pretty letter, 

My third a valiant instrument. 

But my fourth, alas, 

Just has to pass, 

As wound and scar. 

From beauty's law it doth debar. 

For it doth seal and hurt and mar. 

My first comes over the sea, 
And delicious it is to me. 
My second of use to draw, 
And of variety score upon score, 
My whole has letters six, 
And while the clock ticks, ticks, 
I am sure you'll guess my name, 
For I've told you very plain. 

I am a word of five letters, 
And a torment to my betters, 
My first and last are alike they say. 
My second and fourth the same trick 
play. 



Fun for the Household. 189 

My three middle letters 
Come every one s way 
And make a brief stay, 
On all alike, 
Just before night. 



ANAGRAMS. 

1. Cover no sin. 

2. Tim N. may gain. 

3. Go nurse. 

4. Train on time. 

5. Claim a part, G. 

6. A mad girl. 

7. Tis veteran Mylo, D. 

8. A rude song. 

9. Any one can. 

10. Thomas rap again. 



CROSS-WORD ENIGMAS. 

I. My first is in saddle, but not in pony ; 

My second is in spaghetti, but not macca- 
roni ; 

My third is in water, but not in sand ; 

My fourth is in Indian, but not in com- 
mand ; 

My fifth is in plank, but not in board ; 

My sixth is in saving, but not in hoard ; 

My seventh is in make, but not in lose ; 

My eighth is in gaiters, but not in shoes ; 



190 Fun for the Household. 

My ninth is in candle, but not in light ; 

My tenth is in horses, but not in bite ; 

My eleventh is in inch, but not in meas- 
ure ; 

My twelfth is in satin, but not in treas- 
ure ; 

My thirteenth is in coke, but not in ton. 

My whole is a useful invention. 

2. My first is in silent, but not in loud ; 
My second is in alone, but not in crowd ; 
My third is in example, but not in talk ; 
My fourth is in buying, but not in bought ; 
My fifth is in fancy, but not in reality ; 
My sixth is in brains, but not in vanity ; 
My seventh is in angels, but not in ghosts ; 
My eighth is in goodness, but not \\\ 

hoax ; 
My ninth is in religion, but not in cant. 
My whole is the name of a useful plant. 

3. My first is in lamb, but not in beef; 

My second is in mouth, but not in teeth ; 
My thjrd is in Neptune, but not in sea ; 
My fourth is in steward, but not in me ; 
My fifth is in slow, but not in fast ; 
My sixth is in never, but not in last 
My whole is a great city. 

4. In house not in lawn, 
In take not in form. 
In lark not in sky, 
In toil not in try, 



Fun for the Household, 191 

In borrow not in lend, 
In tatters not in mend, 
In draught not in buy, 
In loaf not in pie, 
In page not in book. 
In novel not in took. 
My whole is a flower. 



NUMERICAL ENIGMAS. 

I. I am composed of five letters, 
^y 3» 2, 5, shows hindrance. 
My 4, I, a part of speech. 
My whole is a Spartan title. 

2. I am composed of twenty-seven letters. 
My 20, 16, 17, is a condition of atmos- 
phere. 

My 14, 13, 26, 18, was a rich woman. 

My I, 9, 25, II, 10, is indicative of knowl- 
edge. 

My 6, 23, 24, 22, relative to curvature. 

My 8, 3, 4, 12, shows docility. 

My 19, 15, 7, 21, is a girl's name. 

My 2, 27, — 5, Insert a letter in the blank 
space and you'll have the end. 

My whole is a proverb. 

3. I am composed of nine letters. 
My 4, 2, 6, 5, is a space. 

My 3, 8, I, is a quick inclination. 



192 Fun for the Household, 

My 7» 9> with one of the letters doubled 

mdicates comfort. 
My whole is a flower. 

4. I am composed of eight letters. 
My 7, 4, 5, 3, is a kind of skin. 
My 6, 2, 8, represents a number. 
My I is a part of speech. 
My whole is an animal. 



DECAPITATIONS. 

1. Behead a stream of water, and leave a 
bird like a crow, behead a carpenter s tool 
and leave a passage, behead a section of a 
carriage and leave the hind part of a section 
of the body, behead an edible fish and leave 
a multitude. 

2. Behead a supplication and leave light, 
behead a short time and leave a hide, behead 
a covering and leave relations, behead a 
relative and leave something different 

3. Behead a wading bird and leave a 
wooer, behead to charge and leave one that 
is unsound, behead a dance and leave a fish, 
behead an officer and leave a verb. 

4. Behead a weapon of war and leave a 
fruit, behead an ensign and leave a unit, 
behead a low, fiat-built vessel, and leave a 
narrow passage, behead a ruminating ani- 
mal and leave a plant and its seed. 



Fim for the Household, 193 

DROP-LETTER RIDDLES. 

1. -h- w~s -u-h -u-e -o -o-z ? 

2. -h- w-l-e- o- e-r-h, 
-h- t-l-e- o- e-r-h, 

-h- r-b-k-d - m-n -o~ s-n ; 
-h- s -o- o- e-r-h, 
-h~'s -o- i- h-a-e- 
-o- 1-k-l- t- g-t -n. 

3. -h- d-d -d-m ~i- e-h- a-p-e -v- g- v- 

h -m. - 

4. -h-t -i- a-a- f-r-t -e- i- t-e -a-d-n 

-f -d-n ? 

5. -h- a-e -d-m -n- e-e -n -n-m-1- i- 

g-a-m-r ? 

6. -o- d-d -o-h -r-s- h-s -a-r -n -h- 

a~k? 



DROP-LETTER PUZZLES. 

1. M-K- H-Y -H-L- T-E -U- S-I-E- 

2. -a-1 — o -e n a-1 — o -i-e 

-a-e — e — e-l-h — e-l-h — n — i-e. 

3. -o -o -h — n — ho — luggar- -onside- 

-e — ay — n — e -is- 

4. -i-t-e -1-n- i- h-p-i-e-s -e-o- 

OPENING LINES OF FAMILIAR SONG. 

I, Ho odtn' uyo eeerrmmb twese eclai 
ebblton, 
Etswe claei ihwt iahr os rnbwo ; 
13 



194 F^'^ f^'^ ^^^ Household, 

Esh pwte tiwhgdtheil hwne uoy aevg 

ehr a eimls 
Dan Iteredmb hiwt aefr ta uyro wrfno. 

2. Hte peehtnla own esog urdona, 
Eht dnba gsiben ot aypl, 

Teh ybso aer daunor hte ykmeno 

gcea, 
U'oyd treebt ekpe ywaa. 

3. I aeddr eht yad u'yllo gftore em 

grreeiamtu 
Mda lilst i okwn ti oosn Iwli ecmo, 
Het iteesvf aec dn, eht ihcr teh yga, 
Os ftfrdneirmofrouemhoumeegairrt. 

ANSWERS TO CHARADES, ANAGRAMS, ETC. 
Charades, 

1. Eyelash. 

2. Independent. 

3. Teapot. 

4. Level. 

Anagrams, 

Conversion. 
Magnanimity. 

3. Surgeon. 

4. Termination. 

5. Pragmatical. 

6. Madrigal. 
Demonstratively, 



Fun for the Household. 195 



8. Dangerous. 

9. Annoyance. 

10. Phantasmagt)ria. 

Cross-word Enigmas, 

1. Sewing-machine. 

2. Saxifrage. 

3. London. 

4. Heliotrope. 

Numerical Enigmas. 

1. Helot. 

2. A soft answer turneth away wrath. 

3. Dandelion. 

4. Antelope. 

Decapitations, 

1. Brook, rook ; 2, plane, lane ; 3, wheel, 

heel, trout, rout. 

2. Pray, ray ; 2, spell, pell ; 3, skin, kin ; 

4, mother, other. 

3. I, plover, lover ; 2, blame, lame ; 3, 

reel, eel ; 4, mate, ate. 
4. I. Spear, pear. 2. Mace, ace. 3. Galley, 
alley. 4. Goats, oats. 

Z>r<?^ Letter Riddles. 

I. Why was Ruth rude to Boaz '^. 

Because she trod on his corns, and pulled 
his ears. 



196 Fun for the Household. 

2. She walked on earth, 

She talked on earth, 

She rebuked a man for sin ; 

She's not on earth, 

She's not in heaven, 

Nor likely to get in. 
Balaam's Ass. 

3. Why did Adam bite the apple Eve gave 

him ? 
Because he had no knife. 

4. What did Adam first set in the Garden of 

Eden ? 
His foot. 

5. Why are Adam and Eve an anomaly in 

grammar,? 
Because they are two relatives without an 
antecedent. 

6. How did Noah dress his hair in the Ark ? 
With the fox's brush an d the cock's comb. 

DroJ> Letter Puzzles. 

1. Make hay while the sun shines. 

2. Early to bed and early to rise, makes 

men healthy, wealthy, and wise. 

3. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider 

her ways and be wise. 

4. Virtue alone is happiness below. 

The Opening Lines of Familial' Songs. 

I. ''Oh! don't you remember sweet Alice, 
Ben Bolt, 
Sweet Alice, with eyes so brown ; 



Fun for the HouseJiold, 197 

She wept with delight when you gave 

her a smile, 
And trembled with fear at your frown." 

2. *'The elephant now goes round, 

The band begins to play. 
The boys are around the monkey 
cage. You'd better keep away/' 

3. *' I dread the day you'll forget me, Mar- 

guerite, 
And still I know it soon will come. 
The festive dance, the rich, the gay, 
So different from our home. Marguerite." 

Forfeits. 

The exacting of forfeits for tardiness or 
failure in the playing of games will usually 
lead to as much amusement as the games 
themselves. 

Those who subject themselves to forfeiture 
may give a trivial article just as satisfactorily 
as an expensive one, or they may simply 
write their names on a slip of paper, and 
hand that to the person in charge. Each 
player is bound to redeem his name. 

At the conclusion of the game the host, or 
any individual he may appoint (provided 
that person has no forfeits), collects all and 
puts them out of sight of the audience, and 
commencing with the one at his right, he 
takes the players in turn. 

That party now sits down and the one in 
charge holding over his head one of the 



198 Fun for the Household. 

trinkets or whatever the object may be, 
says : *' What a jolly thing ! What a smart, 
pretty thing ! What will the owner do ? " 

The party in the chair inquires, ** Does it 
belong to a lady, or to a gentleman ? " He 
is at once answered correctly and then re- 
sponds by advising a difficult or ridiculous 
performance. The individual who owns the 
forfeit must now perform what has been 
advised. As soon as the party has redeemed 
his pledge, another forfeit is redeemed after 
the same method, and so on, one by one, 
until all articles are returned to their owners. 
Each forfeit is naturally redeemed amid 
peals of laughter. 

The following may prove helpful to those 
who have to declare penalties. 

1. Fold a piece of note-paper in the shape 
of a fish. 

2. Say, Quizzical Quiz, sister Smith, five 
times running without drawing a breath. 

3. Count twenty backwards without smil- 
ing". 

4. Mention five synonyms for the word, 
Jabber. 

(Chatter, gabble, mumble, prate, prattle.) 

5. Repeat three times without a mis- 
take : — 

David Daldron dreamed he drove a dragon. 
Did David Daldron dream he drove a dragon ? 
If David Daldron dreamed he drove a dragon, 
Where's the dragon David Daldron dreamed he drove t 



Fun for the Household, 199 

6. Repeat the following lines twice, 

Oliver Ogilvie ogled an olive and oyster, 

Did Oliver Ogilvie ogle an olive and oyster ? 

If Oliver Ogilvie ogled an olive and oyster 

Where is the olive and oyster Oliver Ogilvie ogled ? 

7. Touch the features while you solemnly 
recite, 

Here sits the Lord Mayor, forehead. 

Here sit his two men, eyes. 

Here sits the cock, right cheek. 

Here sits the hen, left cheek. 

Here sits the little chickens, tip of nose. 

Here they run in, the mouth. 

Chinchopper, chinchopper, chinchopper, 

chin 1 " Chuck the chin. 

8. Repeat the alphabet smilar to example. 

A was an archer, and shot at a frog, 

B was a butcher, and had a great dog. 

C was a captain, all covered with lace, 

D was a dunce with a very sad face. 

E was an esquire, with pride on his brow, 

F was a farmer and followed the plow. 

G was a gamester who had but ill luck, 

H was a hunter and hunted a buck. 

I was an innkeeper, who lov'd to house, 

J was a joiner, and built up a house. 

K was a king, so mighty and grand, 

L was a lady who had a white hand. 

M was a miser who hoarded up gold, 

N was a nobleman, gallant and bold. 

O was an oysterman, and went about town, 

P was a parson, and wore a black gown. 

Q was a quack with a wonderful pill, 

R was a robber, who wanted to kill. 



200 Fun for the Household, 

S was a sailor, and spent all he got, 
T was a tinker, and mended a pot. 
U was a usurer, a miserable elf, 

V was a vintner, who drank all himself. 
W was a watchman and guarded the door, 
X was expensive, and so became poor. 

Y was a youth, that did not love school, 
Z was a Zan, a poor, harmless fool. 

9. Sing" to the tune of ''Oats, Pease, Beans 
and Barley grows." 

Tom he was a piper's son, 

He learned to play when he was young ; 

But all the tune that he could play. 

Was *' Over the hills and far away." 

Now Tom with his pipe made such a noise, 

That he pleased both the girls and the boys. 

And they all stopped to hear him play 

Over the hills and far away. 

Tom with his pipe did play with such skill, 

That those who heard him could never stand still ; 

Whenever they heard him they began to dance, 

Even pigs on their hind legs would after him prance. 

He met old Dame Trot with a basket of eggs, 

He used his pipe and she used her legs ; 

She danced about till the eggs were all broke, 

She began to fret, but he laughed at the joke. 

He saw a cross fellow was beating an ass. 

Heavy laden wth pots, pans, dishes and glass ; 

He took out his pipe and played them a tune, 

And the jackass's load was lightened full soon. 

10. Blow out a candle. 

The candle is rapidly flashed before the 
person to blow it out. If passed to and fro 
quick enough, it will afford much laughter 
before it is blown out. 



Fun for the Household. 201 

11. Stand on a chair and do just as you 
are bidden without laughing. 

12. Put a cord on the floor where you 
cannot step over it. 

(Put it against the wall.) 

13. Put two chairs back to back and take 
off your shoes and jump over them. 

This is only a trick, you take off your 
shoes and jump over them, not over the 
chairs. 

14. Act the part of a dumb servant. If it 
is a lady who is redeeming the forfeit, she 
must apply to a gentleman for a place, and 
if a gentleman, he applies to a lady. Who- 
ever is engaging the servant asks seven 
questions, all of which are answered by 
dumb motions. Example : How do you 
dust.? How do you sew.? How do you 
open the hall door? How do you blacken 
boots.? etc. 

15. Ask a question that cannot be an- 
swered in the negative. 

(The question is ' ' What does YES spell .? '') 

16. Give a conundrum unfamiliar to all. 

17. Dot and carry one. 

(Hold your ankle while you walk across 
the room.) 

18. Imitate a banjo player. 

19. Dance a blind lanciers. 

(Try this when a number of forfeits have 
to be redeemed. Eight people are blind- 
folded and led to position. Another of the 
company plays the lanciers. As those who 



202 Fun for the Household. 

are blindfolded will surely make ridiculous 
errors, everybody will heartily laugh. This 
forfeit creates much merriment.) 

20. Make a three-minute address, in 
which every word commences with the 
same letter. 

21. Tell who wrote the Star Spangled 
Banner. 

(Francis Scott Key. ) 

22. Tell who wrote Home Sweet Home. 
(John Howard Payne.) 

23. Tell who wrote the Battle Hymn of 
the Republic. 

(Julia Ward Howe.) 

24. Walk out of the room with two legs 
but walk back with six. 

(When you return, bring a chair with 
you.) 

25. Give numerical poetry. 

Any verse that is familiar counting as ex- 
ample : 

Shuffle-Shoon (one) and (two) Amber- Locks (three) 
Sit (four) together (five) building (six) blocks (seven) 
Shuffle-Shoon (eight) is (nine) old (ten) and (eleven) 

gray (twelve) 
Amber-Locks (thirteen) a (fourteen) little (fifteen) 

child (sixteen) 
But (seventeen) together (eighteen) at (nineteen) 

their (twenty) play (twenty-one) 
Age (twenty-two) and (twenty-three) youth (twenty- 
four) are (twenty-five) reconciled (twenty-six) 

And (twenty-seven) with (twenty-eight) sympathetic 

(twenty-nine) glee (thirty) 
Build (thirty-one) their (thirty-two) castles (thirty 
three) fair (thirty-four) to (thirty-five) see (thirty-six). 



Fun for the Household. 203 

26. Spread out a newspaper and stand 
two persons on it, so that they cannot pos- 
sibly touch each other. 

(To accomplish this put the newspaper on 
the floor, half on one side of the door, and 
half on the other. A person stands on each 
piece, and the door is shut between them.) 

27. Sing one of the topical songs. 

28. Sing the scale backwards. 

29. Draw a picture of a bicycle race. 

30. Build a house with cards. 

31. Sew a hem. 

32. Repeat rapidly either of the following 
tongue twisters. 

Susan shineth shoes and socks ; socks and shoes 
shines Susan. She ceaseth shining shoes and socks, 
for shoes and socks shock Susan. 

Strict, strong Stephen Stringer snared six sickly 
silky snakes. 

Swan swam over the sea ; swim, swan, swim ; swan 
swam back again ; well swum swan. 

Six thick thistle sticks. 

Flesh of freshly fried flying fish. 

Give Grimes Jim's great gilt gig whip. 



204 -^^^^^ f^^ ^^^^ Household. 



IN THE ADIRONDACKS, 

It was the last week of July, and the 
guests of a certain hotel, located amidst the 
pine and balsam of the famed Adirondack 
wilderness, were thrown into a flutter of 
excitement. 

It had been steadily raining for three days 
and nights, and now that the fourth day 
was nearing its close a golden light appeared 
in the west. The mirror-like surface of the 
lake before the hotel rapidly revealed the 
many shades of crimson red and deep gold, 
while fleecy clouds of pink and white merged 
into deeper tints. 

Every one was on the piazza, called there 
by an enthusiast to witness the beauty of it 
all. Every face smiled because the long 
storm was over at last, and there seemed a 
promise of radiant sunshine for to-morrow. 

Suddenly a voice from the north piazza 
called to a young gentleman who had been 
walking about with a rather dissatisfied air, 
'' I hear wheels. Now for the excitement 
of an arrival." 

It was only the w^aiting of a few moments, 
and two bay horses, much bespattered with 
mud and mire, drew the heavily built two- 
seated surrey to the hotel steps. 



Fun for the Household. 205 

Guests stood about by twos and threes, 
most of them with half-averted faces, not 
willing- to openly show the inquisitive feel- 
ing that each possessed. However, many 
furtive glances were cast. Perhaps among- 
the most searching, were those given by the 
dissatisfied young man. 

"Permit me, madam.'' It was the pro- 
prietors voice, as he aided a tall, fair- 
skinned, stern and aristocratic-looking ma- 
tron to alight, assisting her meanwhile to 
unfasten her travelling cloak, which had 
caught on a nail in the end of a seat. The 
lady slowly remarked, as her feet touched 
the horse block. ' ' That nail has been rather 
too much in evidence." 

By the matron's side a young lady had 
sat. This fact had been observed by all the 
guests, before they had turned their heads 
away, and now that she too had left the 
carriage, her golden hair and soft hazel eyes 
were mentally remarked, as also her grace- 
ful carriage and elegant tailor-made gown. 

The proprietor, lifting one of the hand- 
satchels, leaving the umbrellas and other 
small luggage for the porter, led the way to 
the office. 

Then they hastily entered, and a few 
minutes later walked through the dimly- 
lighted corridor, for it was not yet dark 
enough to illuminate. 

'' I reckon that girl has never been in the 
woods before," said the dissatisfied man to 



2o6 Fun for the Household. 

his friend. For now, side by side, he and 
a young fellow about thirty strode slowly 
up and down, exchanging confidences and 
chatting in a desultory fashion. 

'' She does not seem to the manner born, 
that's a fact," said the other, **but she's an 
interesting type, and probably an addition 
to our house party." He turned an inter- 
ested face towards his friend and said : 
*' There's far more the flavor of Narragansett 
Pier or Bar Harbor about her than of the 
woods, or she may have come from Sara- 
toga. We'll not have to wait long to see, 
or I'm not a correct judge, but her mother 
may prove a formidable chaperon." 

The mother and daughter, for their rela- 
tionship was at once identified, some one 
having accommodatingly referred to the 
register, and reported information to the 
others, were not long in reappearing, and 
the young men, still walking back and 
forth, were not surprised to discover that 
their prediction was correct. 

''Maud, dear, how shall you exist here?" 
were the half-petulant words overheard as 
the mother languidly seated herself. 

"" It will not be Saratoga, I confess. But 
isn't that lake enchanting .? " The girl's face 
was very fair and bewitchingly amiable. 

*'Yes, it is pretty. But shall you ever 
forget our trip to this hotel } Such roads ! " 

Maud met her mother's questioning eyes, 
then noting a middle-aged woman approach- 



Fun for the Household. 207 

ing them, with face full of kindly greeting, 
waited. 

** You are strangers," were this lady's first 
words, adding as she reached forth her 
hand: *'I fear you will feel lonely and 
tired, after the long drive." 

The mother at once extended her hand. 
Then the lady asked the girl, *'Have you 
ever been in the woods before t " 

** Never, and my mother fears I shall not 
like it. It did seem lonely, the last drive 
through the pines," and the sensitive mouth 
quivered ever so slightly, as she explained. 
*'The drive up was so long, the roads so 
thickly wooded, and here," with a half- 
frightened glance about, as though she 
feared a fox or a bear would cross the walk 
before her, '' you have only the lake.'' 

Without a word the lady laughed merrily, 
but hastily checked herself. * ' I promise you 
that if you will only join in our sports you 
will find that there is much here besides the 
lake. Though," coyly scanning her, "the 
lake has its amusements, fishing, boating. 
Oh, the gentlemen here will be delighted to 
introduce you to it." 

Maud's mother looked both surprised and 
confused. The lady continued, as though 
she noted her not, *' You will find the camps 
about the lake quite as entertaining as Sara- 
toga's Floral Fete, or indeed any fashionable 
watering-place amusement." 

** Camps.? I don't quite understand," 



2o8 Fun for the Household. 

Maud's mother remarked, with a touch of 
bitterness in her tone, for the darkening 
wood about, now that night was coming 
fast, made her slow to relent. It was strange 
she had chosen to come to such a spot. 

'* I think one has to visit these camps to 
understand," the lady explained. *' But you 
will always find them hospitable, furnishing 
afternoon tea every day you care to call. 
And some days there are special fetes, full 
of pleasant surprises, when amusements 
such as the thimble game and proverbs are 
played, at which prizes are sometimes of- 
fered as an added incentive. Last season 
the hostess of one of the camps gave a chil- 
dren's party. There happened to be a few 
here that year, for children are a rarity in 
the Adirondacks. Of course their parents, 
uncles, aunts and cousins came, too. That 
entertainment has been talked about ever 
since. The party opened with the wild 
flower hunt. Small bouquets had been hid- 
den among the balsam boughs, low enough 
for the little ones to reach ; others were be- 
hind bushes or rocks. These bouquets were 
made up of clover, daisies and wild roses. 
Whichever child found the most wild roses 
received a prize. 

''This amusement was followed by the 
hunt for Cinderella's Slipper. The suc- 
cessful one at this game also received a 
prize. After this, the hostess invited all the 
children into the balsam-covered lean-to, 



Fun for the Household, 209 

and told them a story about the old man of 
Humbug" Mountain. Humbug Mountain 
towers just behind, you notice the tallest 
mountain over there, don't you ? " and the 
lady motioned to the left, as they faced the 
lake. 

'* Yes, but what has reddened the trees so ? 
Why, mother, did you ever see anything as 
beautiful ? " and while pronouncing the word 
'^ beautiful, "Maud's countenance was full 
of delight. 

"■ That is the afterglow," the lady re- 
plied, but not waiting for further remark, 
she continued: *'I was telling you about 
the old man of Humbug Mountain. The 
hostess explained to the children that some- 
times he visited her camp, and when he did 
so he whistled, and that if he should 
whistle that afternoon, she would take the 
children back of the lean-to to see him. At 
that very moment a whistle clear and shrill 
was heard, and the children, already en- 
amoured with the story, could scarcely be 
sufficiently restrained to allow the hostess 
to proceed. When the laughing, curious 
children ran behind the lean-to, sure enough, 
as had been promised, there was an old 
man. He was standing on a table. It was 
a dwarf skilfully arranged by two people." 

'* Oh that was it ? " Maud interrupted, for 
she had listened intently, and was appar- 
ently as eager to discover the identity of the 
old man of Humbug Mountain, as had been 
14 



2IO Fun for the Household, 

the children of the party, and then she 
added : ** I happen to know about that, for I 
was part of a dwarf once," and with a wise 
little shake of her head explained, *' It is 
arranged by two people. " 

'' Yes, and is it not capital ? " 

*' Fine, when it is well done, " and Maud 
who was already feeling at home with her 
companion, added : *' And of course the 
dwarf from the mountain would be well 
done. " 

'' Indeed he was. He told short, witty 
stories, laughed, danced and capered to the 
children's great delight. They would clap 
their hands for joy. It was a rare sight for 
the grown-ups to watch the color come and 
♦ go in their expressive faces, their fluffy curls 
and tangle of waves and braids tumbling 
about as the little girls shook with laughter, 
and some of the boys were even more amus- 
ing than the girls, because they looked so 
earnest, even solemn, in their efforts to find 
an explanation for the oLd man. One little 
chap said he would get his father to carry 
his rifle now all the time, because they 
might meet the old man sometimes when 
he wouldn't feel as jolly, and what then ? 
In fact he was about certain he had seen 
the old man one day stealing away behind 
a big stump, and even some of the children 
laughed when he explained : * It was the 
very same day, that I almost saw a black 
bear. I could hear him growl. I tell you 



Fu7i for the Household. 211 

I ran ! Like as not there was a fox too, or a 
wild cat ? *' 

*' Well, after the dwarf exhibition, there 
were refreshments at which the children 
toasted marshmallows and popped corn. '' 

'* Why, after all, Maud, '*' said her mother, 
thawing out suddenly, '* I fancy you may 
like it here. There seem to be things 
going on." 

''Like it," quoted the lady. "No one 
ever wants to go home when she once gets 
a taste of Adirondack life. It is like the 
hounds following the deer. People take to 
the woods." 

Suddenly there sounded through the hall 
the first measures of an orchestra. 

"The music has begun, and I must dress," 
said Miss Friend-in-Need, noting the ques- 
tioning glance between mother and daugh- 
ter. "That music is a signal to-night. A 
few of us give a part of the Midsummer 
Night's Dream this evening, in the parlor, 
and we are to costume ourselves as far as 
possible before supper. 

"What fun we've had getting the affair 
up ! You may not know that it has simply 
poured here for days and days, but we've 
laughed until we've cried at our rehearsals, 
and so have scarcely been troubled by rain. 

"You'll surely come to the first and last 
performance of this wonderful company, 
will you not ? " and walking away, the lady 
looked over her shoulder for an answer. And 



212 Fun for the Household. 

having won a reply in the affirmative, the 
lady rapidly hurried to her room. 

After supper, as Maud's mother took her 
seat, to which she was shown by a young 
man acting as usher, she noticed the parlor 
had been lavishly trimmed with boughs of 
green. There was also a tiny wood adjoin- 
hig the stage, made of small balsam trees. 

*' I suppose,'' she remarked to her daugh- 
ter, ''they went out between the drops and 
gathered them. " And then both ladies in- 
terestedly noticed the guests, as one after 
the other, with an air of expectancy, en- 
tered. 

Programmes were passed and eagerly 
scanned. 

It was indeed a gala night. Had Maud 
and her mother known the various per- 
formers, it would have greatly added to 
their entertainment, but as it was, Ihey 
could not help adding their applause to that 
of the others. Even though Maud was a 
stranger, the joyous shouts of laughter 
proved too contagious to be altogether re- 
sisted, and indeed before the performance 
was over, close contact with these merry 
people made Maud feel as though she was 
one of them, so quickly does one touch of 
nature make the whole world kin. 

As the programme indicated the different 
characters, they were carefully read, and 
many ejaculations were overheard, such as : 
*'Oh, that's Isabel's character,'' and *' Why, 



Fun for the Household, 213 

Carl Adams will be a sight, he's such a swell, 
you know. How did such an exquisite 
ever consent to humble himself in this way ? " 
To Maud and her mother, however, all 
were strangers, with the one exception of 
the proprietor of the hotel, but they very 
soon learned the names of the people about 
them. Besides, as Maud's mother very 
truly said, ''Without it I am not positive 
that I could remember who the different 
ones are in the piece, as it is a long time 
since I have read the Midsummer Night's 
Dream." Therefore, while waiting for the 
first scene, they read ; 

Theseus, Duke of Athens, 

Proprieto7' of the hotel, 

Egeus, Father to Hermia, 

Mr. A . 



I 



T-»,.,.,.^^^,.'^ \ ^"^ love with Hermia, 
Demetrius, ) ' 



Lysander, 

Mr. C a7td Mr. H- 



Philostrate, Master of the revels to Theseus, 
Mr. T . 

Quince, a carpenter, 

Master Carl Adams. 

Snug, a joiner, 

Master John Jones. 



214 Fun for the Household. 

Bottom, a weaver, 

Mr. Sam S . 

Flute, a bellows-mender, 

Mr. Ralph R . 

Snout, a tinker, 

Master Diedrick Delk. 

Starveling, a tailor, 

Mr. Percy P . 

HiPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to 
Theseus, 

Miss Genevieve B . 

Hermia, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander, 
Mrs. Ralph R . 

Helena, in love with Demetrius, 

Mrs. Sam S . 

Oberon, King of the fairies, 

Mr. James D . 

TiTANiA, Queen of the fairies. 

Miss Isabel M . 

Puck, or Robin Goodfellow. 

Master Alexander Marvin, 

Peaseblossom, 1 
Cobweb, tt • • 

Moth, \ Raines. 

Mustardseed, J 

The Misses Wilson^ Bruce^ Sim^ Conger, 



Fu7i for the Household. 215 

Other fairies attending their King and Queen, 
Misses Kate W , Fanny T- , Eva M . 

Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta. 
Masters Goodwin, Bartlett, Carrington and Scott. 

As Maud's mother inquired when in the 
seclusion of their own apartments, **Did 
you really like it so very much ? '' 

Maud answered laughing, ''More than I 
can express." 

The following morning it was a question, 
''What would be the proper costume for 
breakfast ? " 

From one of their windows they had a 
partial view of the lake, but from the other 
nothing but tall trees met their eyes. Pines 
were in abundance, but there was an oc- 
casional hemlock, spruce, birch and maple. 

"It is summer. Would you think that 
this white organdy would do ? *' asked Maud, 
and the frock, apparently only a cloud of 
Valenciennes lace, was held towards her 
mother. 

"Do? I am sure I don't know w^hat is 
considered correct for such a wilderness, 
but you might not be warm enough. I 
fancy it is cold outdoors.*' 

"FU tell you what Fllw^ear," said the 
young lady presently, for she had a wonder- 
ful conception of color values, and knew 



2i6 Fun for the Household. 

what would look best with her dark eyes, 
and also what would produce the most 
fetching effect, should she be able to in- 
duce her mother to walk among the trees 
after breakfast. ** I am going to put on my 
crimson pique, bodice and all," for she had 
several waists that could be worn with the 
same skirt, and as her quick eyes looked 
over the guests at breakfast, she was not 
sorry the decision had been against the 
organdy. 

*'A11 night my dreams were of the enter- 
tainment," said Maud, as, sitting opposite 
her mother, she tried to pour the cream 
into her coffee. *' It is almost too thick to 
stir. Did you ever see such cream ? " she 
said. 

'' I never saw thicker. And this trout is 
delicious. It would be singular indeed if I 
were won to this place. But, Maud, tell me 
about your dream, dear." 

''Oh, I dreamed of Titania and Oberon, 
Queen and King of the fairies, you know. I 
could see the airy things moving over the 
green. It was Midsummer-Night's Dream 
truly, for I dreamed of the pretty piece, and 
isn't this Midsummer.?" 

''Why, Maud! I fancy you slept well. 
Perhaps you'll be surprised to learn that I 
too dreamed of our evening's pleasure." 

"Surprised ! Yes, indeed ! " and Maud's 
eyes sought her mother's. "What part did 
you dream about } " 



Fun for the Household. 217 

''I think it is the opening of the second 
act, when the fairy replies to Puck, 



Over hill, over dale, 

Thorough bush, thorough brier, 
Over park, over pale, 

Thorough flood, thorough fire, 
I do wander everywhere. 



You remember how it goes, don't you ? " 
*' Perfectly ; and didn't that fairy look 

lovely ? I am sure I shall be glad to 

know her. But Puck I am not as sure 

about/' 

''Could you pass me the rolls, Maud?" 
"Certainly, take that one,'' and Maud 

turned the plate so that her mother could 

have a temptingly brown roll. 

*'And now," continued her mother, as 

she contentedly broke the roll open, ''tell 

me more about your dream." 

"You know towards the close, Oberon 

and Titania entered with their train." 
"Do you mean where Oberon sings, 

Though the house gives glimmering light, 
By the dead and drowsy fire. 
Every elf and fairy sprite, 

And so on ? " 

"Yes, those are the very words. And 
didn't Titania have a sweet voice ? I hope 
she'll sing often. I am sure everybody 



21 8 Fun for the Household, 

must enjoy listening to her. I thought this 

beautiful : 

First rehearse your song by rote, 
To each word a warbling note. 
Hand in hand with fairy grace, 
Will we sing and bless this place." 

As Maud said, ''bless this place," the 
lady who had welcomed Maud and her 
mother the evening before was walking 
past their table, and having overheard the 
words, she stopped. 

''Just what I like to hear.'' Then mis- 
chievously looking at Maud's mother. ' ' But 
I did not expect the woods to have won so 
much enthusiasm already, did you ? " 

" No, I did not," and the mother's lip un- 
bent into a sunny smile. " But there is no 
telling what we may both say yet." 

"This fish breakfast has been delicious, 
and besides everybody looks rested and 
cheery. " 

" That is just the point ; no one can help 
being rested, because midnight-oil is un- 
known here and how can people help be- 
ing cheery, when this bracing air is a tonic ; 
And besides we have so many delightful 
sports. There are to be charades, and rol- 
licking games, such as Twirl the Platter, 
and Going to Jerusalem, this evening, and 
to-day there are several things on hand. 
One is a driving and riding party. All the 
young people, with two chaperones, are 



Fun for the Household. 219 

going over to the next hotel to dinner. By 
the way, do you ride ? '' 

And Maud, whose face was flushed with 
the memory of her many pleasant hours 
on horseback, answered, *' I could ride al- 
most forever/' 

"Then you are the very young lady we 
want," and turning to Maud's mother, " Tm 
to be one of the chaperones. Fll promise 
to bring her home safe. There is a fine sad- 
dle-horse waiting to be ridden, and a fine 

young man, who is in despair because every 
one but himself has a riding companion. 
He is a New York lawyer. May I introduce 
him ? '' were her words, as the trio left the 
breakfast-room together. 

The answer must have been ''Yes," be- 
cause, an hour later, one dowager said to an- 
other, '' Did you hear that new girl, that 
airish creature with the golden hair, and 
sleepy-looking dark eyes, who came just 
before supper last evening, has gone off 
horseback riding with the one we called 
' the dissatisfied young man ? ' He seems 
to be perfectly satisfied now. I suppose 
neither of our daughters was good enough 
for hiiiu" 



220 Fun for the Household. 



THE FLOWER-TEST. 

The postman rapped at my door, and 
presently the trim little maid brought me a 
big square letter on a tray. I knew that 
hand. Nobody but Penelope writes in that 
scraggly style, plain, too, as a pikestaff, and 
easy to read. '' Darling Gertrude," she be- 
gan, ''I am about to plead for a visit. It 
seems a little bit of forever since I saw you 
and I want you here in my country house 
where we'll have time to enjoy one another, 
talk of the past and present tenses to our 
hearts' content, and perhaps plan a happy 
future. 

'' Let me tell you whom you'll meet : Mr. 
and Mrs. Burkhardt, — you remember that 
sweet little girl bride who succeeded so well 
in blinding us — at first ; dear old General 
Bolton, and his youngest brother, who paints 
almost as well as he talks ; pretty Elsie 
Sterling and my cousin Bob. You see I put 
them together, but so would you if you 
could look out of my window and see them 
now. Bob has just mounted Elsie on White 
Baron, and now as I write the words he's 
up on Caper and off they go. Well — we'll 
borrow White Baron and Caper later on, 
you and I, and perhaps as we canter along 



Fun for the Household. 221 

side by side we may feel ourselves back 
again,- — back — how many years ? Never 
mind, well not count. The years have been 
happy to us both, I hope. 

" But you'll come — you must not say no, 
remember. Cordially your friend, 

^ ^ Penelope T. Gerard." 

Indeed I would not say ''No." I would 
arrange and rearrange my summer plans to 
meet Penelope once more. 

It was scarce three years since I last saw 
her. She was then a bride of but two 
months and I spent three days with her 
just as I was leaving for Germany. During 
the interval our letters were more or less 
frequent, and so in a way we each kept track 
of the other and felt as close friends as we 
had been since our childhood. 

So it was with infinite pleasure I wrote an 
acceptance. 

*' The Maples" is an unpretending ram- 
bling sort of a house, with piazzas, and ** cor- 
ners," and nooks where one would least 
expect them. There is no rhyme or rea- 
son to the architecture, and an architect 
would shake his head in sad consternation. 
However, if he were told that three genera- 
tions of Gerards had idled their summers 
happily away within and without its walls, 
and that each owner had added his share to 
the original pile, perhaps the exact architect 
would turn his critical smile to one of con- 



222 Fun for the Household, 

tent and count himself fortunate to be al- 
lowed to enter this abode of happiness. 

It was a sunny day when I first drove up 
the long maple-lined driveway and there on 
the lawn, close to the entrance, was Penelope 
making tea and laughing one of her old 
merry laughs as the General stood before her. 
I suppose he was telling her one of his 
funny stories. I don't know, for of course I 
only saw them a moment before the carriage 
stopped, and once more Penelope and I were 
together. 

The General had known us both as girls, 
and soon w^e were talking over old faces and 
scenes, and it seemed as though we had 
never been parted. The rest of the party 
had gone for a long drive and would not be 
back until seven o'clock. So we three 
talked on and on. 

*'Oh, it does seem so good to be here, 
Pen," I said, and added, '' As I came up the 
driveway, the first thing I heard was your 
laugh. You know how mamma used to like 
to hear you laugh." 

' ' Yes, I remember how irrepressible I was. 
But, Trudy, you too w^ould have laughed if 
you'd heard the General hang me." 

^'Hang you.?" 

*' Why, yes. Don't you know the game } " 
Then seeing my bewilderment, she went on. 
'*You must learn it. It's fine for two peo- 
ple. Especially when one gets short of sub- 
jects to talk about.'' 



Fun for the Household. 223 

Here General Bolton threw back his head 
and laughed heartily. '* Short of subjects to 
talk about ! I guess Trudy would as soon 
believe the Atlantic had gone dry as to 
think your nimble tongue was ever still. No, 
indeed ! On the contrary, Trudy, she was 
bound she would make me let out a secret, 
and I, old fool, would probably have fallen 
into her trap, only she warned me by— but 
nevermind how she warned me, or even 
that will fail me next time. So I hung her. 
Yes, I caught her well." Then with a 
chuckle. "Tell her how, Pen, you know 
best how, for you know you were hung, 
and well hung. " And again he laughed. 

"Thafs true. But try me again some- 
time, or rather, TU try you and we'll see 
who does the hanging. No, not now, you 
need not look so eager." 

''Bah, youVe afraid." 

''No, indeed lam not. Just now how- 
ever I mean to take Gertrude and show her 
where her room is. She has been ever so 
patient." 

"But, my dear, please explain first about 
the hanging. It sounds so sanguinary." 

"Well, it is. Now listen and Til explain, 
and then we'll go indoors. ' To hang a 
person with a word,' is the name of the 
game. You take any word you like in your 
mind and simply mention the number of 
letters it has. The other party has to guess, 
by letters, without making twelve misses. 



224 F'^^ fo^ ^f^^ Household. 

If she fails to guess without twelve wrong 
guesses, she is hung as I was. That doesn't 
seem very clear to you, I suppose." 

'^Well, not exactly.'' 

'' I'll take a word and show you. Now, 
General, I did not mean to give you your 
battle now. But you may have it if you're 
ready." 

^^ Steady, fire." 

'' All right." Then she whispered to me 
the word '^Eyelet." 

'' Well, I'll hang you, General Bolton, with 
a word of six letters." 

'*Bah, that's easy. First, 111 guess 
L." 

'' Right. It has fourth place." Then she 
explained to me, ''You have to tell the 
position of the letter." 

''Wrong. That's one. You help me 
keep count, Trudy. Remember, twelve 
wrong guesses and I've hung him." 

"A." 

"Wrong. That makes two." 

"E." 

"Right. First place." 

"I." 

"Wrong. Three." 

"O." 

' ' Wrong. You see he's trying the vowels. 
How many does that make .f' " 

''Four." 

" Oh, you girls need not look so jubilant ; 



Fun for the Household, 225 

four doesn't make much. I'll guess U, 
next." 

**Five, " we both shouted. 

''Well, T." 

*' Right, and sixth place." 

''An e, an 1, and a t. Let me see. Any 
n's in it .? " 

"No. That makes six. Oh, we have 
you, General, that is half the number." 

"The battle is not won yet ; no, nor lost 
yet. Well, Til guess G." 

" Seven." 

He looked down at the grass and 
drummed his fingers on his knee, then said, 
"D." 

"Eight." 

"An e, an 1, and a t. That's a queer 
combination when all the other vowels are 
out. Holloa ! Is there another e t " 

"Yes. Third place." 

"Oh, and another 1.?" 

"Nine." 

" I hope this word is in the English lan- 
guage .? " 

"Oh, yes. It is English and it is used 
to-day, but a generation back it was used 
more frequently." 

"A generation back! Bah!" and he 
straightened himself and rising strode back 
and forth with his hands clasped back of 
him. "I have it! That is, I am pretty 
certain. Has a y, hasn't it ? " 

" Yes — second place." 
IS 



226 Fun for the Household. 

''Eyelet!" he shouted. ''Bah, you 
thought you had me. Well, you almost 
did. Those pesky vowels were at fault." 

" Never mind, I'll hang you yet. I have 
another word in mind. But not to-day. 
Come, Gertrude. You see it all now, I 
guess, and we must hurry in, or Will and 
the others will be back before we are ready 
for dinner. Good-bye for a time, General, 
Look to your guns. I shall be after you 
again." 



Fun for the Household, 227 



II. 

Breakfast was more than half over, some 
mornings later, when in came Bob and 
Irving Bolton. A chorus of *' Fie, fie," 
greeted them, and Elsie Sterling shook her 
fingers threateningly as Bob explained, 
" Pen, don't be hard on a fellow. Irving 
and I talked too late, I suppose, last night. 
At any rate I know I should never have 
turned up this morning only that he yelled 
across to me that lunch was most ready. 
And then he loitered to help me share the 
blame of our lateness. Hey, old fellow ? '' 
and he looked across at Irving as he slid 
into the vacant place between Elsie and 
Mrs. Burkhardt. 

*'You are both rascals, both of you,'' 
growled the General. ''Burkhardt and I 
have been up hours and have planned the 
finest sort of a day for the rest of you un- 
grateful ones. Shall we tell them, Burk- 
hardt?" 

Before Mr. Burkhardt had a chance to 
reply, Penelope interposed, *'Let me try 
and guess." 

''All right, Mrs. Gerard, but you'll have 
to try twenty questions or some such game 



228 Fun for the Household. 

or you'll not hit it. Ifs a fine scheme." 
And Ned Burkhardt nodded triumphantly 
while he put a piece of buttered toast on his 
wife's plate. 

** ril guess just once, and without the help 
of twenty questions either. It's a picnic. " 

''Bah!" exclaimed the General. ^'You 
overheard, or somebody told you." 

*' Perhaps I did, or perhaps that omnipres- 
ent 'little bird ' chirped it in my ear. But, 
at any rate, it's a fine idea. What say the 
rest of you 1 " 

"Just the thing. Fine," was the reply. 

" How shall we go, Will, and where ? " 

"Oh, let's go to Sylvan Grove. It is only 
ten miles. Let me see. Two of you can 
ride horseback. 

"Will you and Irving ride, Gertrude? 
And, Burkhardt, you andmadame and Elsie 
and Bob might take the buckboard, and 
we three old fogies — pardon me, General, — 
will follow on with the provisions. Will 
that suit, Penel.?" 

"All right. And now let's ^^\ ready. 
Can you all start in three quarters of an 
hour.?" 

"Yes, indeed." 

Promptly we all sallied forth, and it was a 
merry party. The air was perfect, and Irv- 
ing, Bolton and I cantered on ahead, and 
finding ourselves far in advance, we turned 
and rode across country for a few" miles. 

It w^as a perfect day, and the picnic was a 



Fun for the Household. 229 

perfect success. At dinner that night we 
voted it as the best day yet. 

** Well, to-morrow is the golf tournament, 
you know," said Will, and turning to his 
wife, he added, "Didn't you say there was a 
dinner on too ?" 

' ' Oh, yes. I nearly forgot. Dear old 
Mrs. Preston asked us all to dinner." Turn- 
ing towards me she said, ''You remember 
at our tea, the day after you came, a white- 
haired lady accompanied by her grand- 
daughter .? " 

''Yes, indeed I do. I think you said she 
lives in that gray stone house we passed 
to-day." 

"Yes, that is the one. It's a lovely house 
too — and such china ! Why, Mrs. Burk- 
hardt, she has a willow set that would make 
your mouth water. Perhaps we'll see it." 

Then turning swiftly, for dinner was over 
and we were just leaving the room, "Lis- 
ten, all of you, please. To-morrow night 
at Mrs. Preston's, and next night nowhere. 
It is Gertrude's last night here and let's 
spend it all alone," and having made her 
little speech she slipped her arm around my 
waist and we went out together. 

We passed through one of the French 
windows, out on the piazza, and sat there 
late into the night. Snatches of conver- 
sation came to us again and again, and 
Mrs. Burkhardt's sweet soprano as she and 
Elsie sang together, while Irving accom- 



230 Fun for the Household. 

paniedon the mandoline. But we, Penelope 
and I, remained alone, each happy in the other. 

The last night came, as all " last nights'' 
must, and with it, '' in sympathy with our 
mood," was the Generals courteous con- 
struction, came a heavy, moaning storm. 
Will poked the fire and piled on the logs as 
though a blizzard were raging without. 
Finally, he paused and said, *'I guess, Pen, 
dear, you may have your wish. No one 
will disturb our family serenity this night" 

How cosy it seemed and how happy all 
appeared. Elsie and Mrs. Burkhardt, Irving 
and Bob were playing checkers in the next 
room. Ned and Penelope were talking about 
dogs and horses and comparing their relative 
intelligence. The General was looking over 
some foreign photographs, while Will and I 
bestowed our attention on the fire. 

*' Truly," spoke General Bolton, *' did you 
ever get up early enough to see Covent 
Garden Market in its glory ! " 

*' Oh, General, do you mean to infer abso- 
lute laziness, or do you mean that the gray 
gloom of London would forbid an early 
awakening ? " 

*' Never mind what I inferred. Did you 
ever go to the market — early ? " 

' ' Strange as it may seem to you, I did. I 
went one morning to Covent GardenMarket, 
and early, about six o'clock, with an Eng- 
lish girl. It was a wonderful sight." 

** See," he interrupted, ''it was this picture 



Fun for the Household, 231 

of a costermonger with the palms and ferns 
that made me ask you." 

*'It is very natural — the little donkey, 
the barrow and all. And how very cheap 
the plants and flowers are — why that morn- 
ing I bought for sixpence as many moss 
roses and buds as I could carry. '' 

'' Gertrude, did you ever see that?" And 
Will gave me a printed slip that he had been 
searching for in his pocketbook. It was 
called the Floral Test. 

*'No, but isn't it good.? Let's ask the 
others the questions and see who can an- 
swer the most." 

*'Come, all you people," called Will, and 
he stepped over to the next room. '' Aren't 
you tired of checkers ? Gertrude has a new 
game." 

When all were seated around expectantly 
he said : "Now, Gertrude, you ask the ques- 
tions and we'll reply. It is called," he ex- 
plained, ^' the Floral Test. She'll ask ques- 
tions and we'll give answers in the names of 
flowers." 

"Tell me the name of a maiden, and the 
color of her hair." 

" Maria-gold," shouted Irving. 

" Good for you, old fellow. How did you 
know ? " questioned Bob. 

"O here," and young Bolton tapped his 
forehead significantly. 

"What adjective fitted her and what was 
her brother's name ? " 



232 Fun for the Household, 

All were silent until Mrs. Burkhardt tim- 
idly said, ^' Is it Sweet-William ? " 

**Thats right. Now try this, — What was 
his favorite sport in winter } " 

' * That's easy. Snowball, '' and Bob threw 
his handkerchief at Will, who sharply re- 
turned it. 

' ' Ned, what was his favorite instrument } " 

''Is it the trumpet.?" 

''That is right. Can you tell me, Elsie, 
at what hour he awoke his father by playing 
on it .? " 

'' Four o'clock." 

'*Yes, and what did his father apply to 
him .? " 

"A golden-rod," two or three shouted. 

'' What office did his father occupy in the 
church .? " 

All seemed puzzled. Finally Elsie said, 
''Was it elder.?" 

" Right. What was the young man's 
name, and what did he write it with.?" 

" That is a poser, Trudy. You'll have to 
tell them, I guess," suggested Will. 

"Jonquil, don't you see .? " 

"Bah !" exclaimed the General, while the 
others laughed. 

" Irving, what candy do you usually 
buy.?" 

" He doesn't know," said Will, "but wait 
a moment and I'll show you some," and he 
went to a closet and brought back a box of 
buttercups. 



Fun for the Household, 235 

''Well, what did John do when he popped 
the question ? " 

"Aster/' yelled the General. 

"That is correct, General. See if you 
can tell what ghastly trophy he offered 
her." 

''Oh, that is easy. A bleeding heart.'* 

"Well, what did she say as John knelt 
before her ? '' 

"Why, Johnny-jump-up, of course.'' 

"That's right. You are fine at this game, 
General. Can you tell me what minister 
married them } " 

"Oh, Jack-in- the-Pulpit," exclaimed Pe- 
nelope. 

"What did she wear in her hair.? " 

"Bridal- wreath." 

"What flowers bloomed in her cheeks .?"^ 

"Roses." 

"What did John say when obliged ta 
leave her for a time .? " 

" Forget-me-not." 

"That is all. It is a fine game, Will. 
Where did you find it .? " 

"Oh, I came across it in a paper, and I 
know Pen likes that sort of thing, so I cut it 
out. But I forgot all about it until you two 
were talking over Covent Garden and the 
early market." 

"I think I can add one to that list of 
questions," and Penelope arose and, draw- 
ing me up by the hand, said, "What flower 
should we put in the candle tray at night ? "^ 



234 ^^^ f<^^ ^^^ Household. 

' ' Poppy, " came the quick reply, and Bob 
quoted, 

The Rock-a-bye lady 

From Hush-a-bye street, 
The poppies they hang 

From her head to her feet, 

'"■ oh, I say, Pen,'' he called, as we 

were on the stairs, *'what shall we all do 
when Gertrude leaves us ? '* 

' ' Do you mean that as a Floral Test 
question ? '' 

^^Yes." 

''I know what I'll do, but I don't know 
any flower or plant to describe it." 

*'Why, Penelope, well all balsam." 



Fun for the Household. 235 



HOURS WITH THE POETS. 

"Felicia Hemans was an American, 
born ' down East ' somewhere ; I think in the 
same section Nora Perry hails from/' was 
the startling- announcement uttered in my 
hearing, by a ''sweet girl graduate" of so 
short time ago as June, 1892. 

'' Pardon contradiction," I called from my 
end of the library, ''but Felicia Hemans 
was an Englishwoman, and her birthplace 
was Liverpool." 

The surprise the above incident created 
caused my own thought to revert to the 
honored and beloved poets who have so 
lately left us, as well as to the mighty 
revered army, from Chaucer down, who 
have more or less an abiding-place in our 
hearts. 

And then followed another thought, — 
would it not be a wise use of time for some 
of us to study the lives and works of these 
poets, the minor as well as the more prom- 
inent ones, and so save ourselves from 
similiar ludicrous blunders as the one above 
given } 

And particularly do I appeal to the young- 



236 Fun for the Household. 

girls just out ; but even the busy schoolgirl 
would have the opportunity if she would 
only systematically arrange her work. 
Afternoon classes might be formed, or even- 
ing ones if preferred ; the latter would 
have the advantages, as then the big brothers 
might come. Simple refreshments, too, 
would not jar on harmony, but rather tend 
to sociability. These could be provided by 
the hostess, for the girls should take turns 
in having the class meet at each house. It 
would also be found to be a benefit to have 
a president and secretary for such a class, 
or, if an old person could be gotten, popular 
and wise enough to take charge, that would 
prove still more satisfactory. 

It is quite the fashion now to be a member 
of a dancing class, why not be a member of 
a poets' class, and so take care of your head 
as well as your heels } Indeed, classes are 
the ''order of the day," for language, music, 
riding, cooking, wood-carving, needlework, 
indeed everything, and the young girls or 
boys who may read this sketch certainly 
want to be into things as well as their 
fellows. 

In these hours with the poets, take a 
different poet for each time the class meets. 
Before the close of one meeting decide on 
who will be the next one taken up. For 
example, will it be Keats, Saxe, Bayard 
Taylor, or Jean Ingelow.? That settled, 
name who will be the one to give a bio- 



Fun for the Household. 237 

graphical sketch of the poet. This may be 
in the form of an original paper, or read 
directly from an encyclopedia. Also name 
two or more members to read or recite poems 
from the poet under consideration. Dis- 
cussion and criticism should be freely al- 
lowed, and unanswerable questions should 
be always answered at the next meeting be- 
fore entering on the new poet. It would 
save time to have the hostess answer the 
questions left from the week before, as she 
could have numerous books at hand, and of 
necessity would be present. 

Do not say this is too difficult a task. 
Nothing is too difficult for those who 
try. 

And do not think such study and hours 
are unnecessary. If you do, find out how 
many of your classmates can at once answer 
whom Ben Jonson adopted as his poetical 
son ? He was a pastoral lyrist, and left be- 
hind him thirteen hundred poems. He was 
a bachelor, though he lived to be eighty- 
four years of age. He was born at Cheap- 
side, London, in 1591, and died in 1674, at 
Dean Prior, which living was presented to 
him, for at times he w^as very poor. His 
name was Robert Herrick. 

Or does my reader know that Thomas 
Gray was a close student of Dryden, or that 
the author of the first important body of 
English sonnets was the romantic hero, Sir 
Philip Sidney, and that he died when but 



238 Fun for the Household. 

thirty-two years of age, having been con- 
spicuous at the court of Elizabeth, was a 
soldier of great promise, a leading states- 
man, and has a prominent place in history? 



Fun for the Household. 239 



'' THANK YOU ! '' 

*' I sent her a basket of fruit for Christmas. 
The basket was of the finest Chinese straw, 
and decorated with handsome pale green 
satin ribbon ; and the fruit, Bartlett pears, 
mandarins, and white grapes; but she has 
not acknowledged it by either verbal or 
written thanks/' 

** Perhaps she never received it," was the 
reply. 

*'I know that she did, for my daughter 
called one day and recognized the basket, 
which stood on the table in the hall through 
which she passed." 

^* Well, but you know she is a very busy 
woman." 

'*That is no excuse. People may be ever 
so busy, but they should not forget decent 
courtesy. Indeed, my experience has been 
that the busy people are, oftener than other- 
wise, the most polite people. My theory is, 
they do not allow themselves to rust in any 
direction ; duty should be done, and is done. 
If an individual cannot take time to thank a 
friend for a Christmas gift, next year that 
friend may not take time to give one. I 



240 Fun for the Household. 

am sure it is not the question of time ; it is 
the question of knowledge or carelessness. 
There are people who really don't know 
enough to be polite ; and others know, but 
are too indifferent to take the trouble, forget- 
gettnig that their conduct reflects most dis- 
agreeably upon themselves. One would 
-think a kind heart might dictate, if com- 
mon-sense did not. But I suppose some 
people have neither common-sense nor kind- 
ness of hearf 

Overhearing the above conversation, the 
listener was reminded of a similar instance 
lately experienced in her own life. A letter 
had been written, which had honorably ad- 
justed a money complication that concerned 
the gentleman to whom she wrote and a so- 
ciety which he represented, but did not con- 
cern or reflect upon the writer in the small- 
est degree excepting for the goodwill she 
bore her friend, and yet for this same letter 
she did not receive one word of thanks — not 
even the acknowledgment of its ever hav- 
ing been received. That it was received 
w^as later proved by a printed report that it 
would have been impossible to set in order 
without it. 

The examples given are by no means rare 
and peculiar, but may be duplicated over 
and over by every intelligent person. And 
in this age of letters, when printed matter 
was never so reasonable, and when teachers 
and schools may be really had '* without 



Fun for the Household. 241 

money and without price," when lectures on 
all topics are inexpensively if not, indeed, 
freely given, where is the excuse for knowl- 
edge not to be the power of all ? It would 
almost seem as if even those indifferently 
educated could not help but have learned 
to say "■ thank you/' or to acknowledge by 
pen or voice any accommodation, help, or 
present. 

Blood is sure to tell, and with Emerson 
we say that " man is physically as well as 
metaphysically a thing of shreds and 
patches, borrowed unequally from good 
and bad ancestors.'" To those of gentle 
blood, rudeness would be impossible. If 
there are partial lapses of manner with those 
looked upon as the refined, the question is 
asked, *' Where does she get that trait.?" 
and possibly the answer may be, *' Her 
great-grandmother." For thus are the sins 
visited upon the children of even the third 
and fourth generations. The deportment of 
the real gentleman or woman can never be 
unpleasantly criticised. They could not be 
ungracious, no matter how hard they should 
try. If there is ever a question about how 
far politeness should extend, err on the side 
of too much rather than that of too little. 
Have too much manner rather than not 
enough. Be too profuse in thanks rather 
than too scant and meagre. 

When a gift has been received or a cour- 
tesy of any kind shown you, at once ac- 
16 



242 Fun for the Household. 

knowledge it, unless you are too ill so to do, 
or a positively important matter prevents. 
If it is impossible to write to the one you are 
indebted to that day, do it the next. But 
as it is so easy for most of us to have good 
intentions, do not put off for to-morrow 
what should be done to-day. 

The note should not be long, but heartily 
and pleasantly w^orded. Some people might 
reflect, *' I would not tell a falsehood, and 
how can I say I like a thing if I do not ? " Or, 
as happened lately, two boxes of wild flow- 
ers were sent me from California by two little 
boys, with a note in one of the boxes con- 
taining the words, ''Which flowers got to 
you best, Pierre s or mine.? '' and I was 
obliged to at once put both boxes in the fire. 
Should I write of the sweetness of the blos- 
soms and the purity and beauty of their col- 
oring } By no means. But I would not 
wound the childish hearts by telling of the 
condition of the flowers at the time they 
were received. Remember the thought 
that prompted the gift. Dwell on that 
altogether if you will. Send a loving mes- 
sage to the donors, and they will never 
dream you did not like their offering in the 
one case or were obliged to burn it in the 
other. 

After all, remembrance is the sweetest 
of all earthly gifts. When the dear ones with 
whom we journey are no longer here, we 
will miss their gentle ministiy. May not 



Fun for the Household, 243 

any one of us then know the bitterness of 
remorse, but rather let us hasten to send 
abundant, hearty thanks to those who have 
taken time to think and care for us ! 



244 P^^'' f'^^ i''''^ Household, 



A STORY WITHIN A STORY 

It was the time when lilies blow, 
And clouds are highest up in air, 

that four young people were vivaciously 
talking on the front piazza at Aunt Mary's. 

Aunt Mary was everybody's friend, but 
particularly beloved by the nephews and 
nieces, of whom this story tells. And her 
home, ''just the jolliest kind of a place to 
visit," Jo said, as he described beforehand 
the expected good times his sister Madeline 
with their cousins, Madge and Ernest, were 
to have in the week's vacation given them 
for recuperation after the half-yearly exam- 
ination. 

Aunt Mary's house was in New Jersey ; 
of course, it was on a farm, for whoever 
would think of looking for such fun and 
frolic anywhere else.? And as all the cou- 
sins came from city homes, and Jo and his 
sister from a small flat of a large apartment 
house, the freedom of space which the 
country had given, added to the bracing air 
and sunny, cheerful atmosphere, was a de- 
lightful contrast. But no one would have 
thought, though, that Madeline was seven- 



Fun for the Household. 245 

teen years of age, or that Madge was called 
*' Miss Propriety "at home, for they would 
race over the farm, playing the wildest of 
games 'Mike a couple of tomboys," their 
brothers said. But Aunt Mary let them do 
exactly as they pleased, and would always 
sigh when she would talk of their shut-in 
city life, and point to their red cheeks with 
great pride, which she assured them came 
from living with her. And the boys, too, 
had seemed wonderfully benefited by their 
running, racing, riding, ball and tennis play- 
ing. Even the hallooing ''got plenty of 
fresh air in their lungs," Ernest said, which, 
with other things too many to mention, had 
been done in this brief holiday. 

To-morrow they must start homeward ; 
and just because they were exhausted with 
one and another game, they are, at the 
commencement of our story, resting and 
talking on Aunt Mary's front piazza. 

Ernest is rubbing his right arm meanwhile, 
for he says, "It has pained me dreadfully 
ever since that last catch at the ball." 

And Aunt Mary has just joined them, 
carrying with her a big tin waiter on which 
is a large molasses cake, so fresh that it is yet 
hot from the oven, and a four-quart pitcher 
of milk, which Bessie, the brown-eyed Al- 
derney, had given at the morning milking 
hour. At sight of their aunt thus laden, 
three cheers were laughingly and loudly 
given, for if there is one way quicker than 



246 Fun for the Household. 

another to young people's hearts, perhaps 
it is by the way of hot molasses cake and 
ice-cold fresh milk, as rich as many city 
folks have their cream. 

Jo, who was eighteen years old on his 
last birthday, is considered the young man 
of the party. He has always been a gentle- 
man, and he at once rushed to the sitting- 
room for his aunt's favorite rocking-chair. 
As Ernest has already disposed of the tray 
by putting it on a spruce-bark covered table 
which stands for ail sorts of convenient pur- 
poses on the piazza, Aunt Mary is comfort- 
ably placed in her easy-chair before she re- 
alizes that Jo had gone for it. '*0h, what 
delicious cake!" "How kind you are!'' 
''I must have another glass of that milk." 
*^ Isn't this lots better than being in school } " 
etc., were the pleasing comments and ejac- 
ulations which any stranger might have 
heard passing on the other side of the road 
from the house, or, indeed, a quarter of a 
mile beyond it. 

After awhile, however, the eating and 
drinking were over, and *'What shall we 
do now.?" was the question. ^Tm tired 
out, for one," said Ernest, and "I for an- 
other," continued Madge; *' still, these are 
our last hours and we must do something ; 
we cannot afford to lose a moment. Aunt 
Mary, you tell us what to do." 

'' Will you promise to do what I tell 
you ? " 



Fun for the Household, 247 

'*We will/' answered Madeline. ''Of 
course we will, "continued Ernest ; ''a likely 
thing we could say no, now, of all times, 
after the way this cake and milk have dis- 
appeared/' 

'' Well, it's agreed, then,'' said Aunt Mary. 
*'I want you to entertain me awhile by 
telling a story." 

**A story! How.? We don't exactly 
understand, do we ? " asked Jo, looking at 
one and another perplexed face. 

' ' The story, " answered Aunt Mary, ' ' must 
be altogether, 'made up,' as Madge would 
say. It must be divided in four chapters or 
parts, as nearly equal in length as is possi- 
ble. Jo can begin it, and, after talking, say 
for two minutes, Madge must follow, then 
Ernest and Madeline will close." 

These words were followed with whistles 
from the boys, and '' Oh, my ! " from the 
girls, to all of which Aunt Mary said, 
"You promised, and of course you will do 
it. And when the story is told, we will all 
drive over to Bear's Gulch, and that will 
take the remainder of the afternoon." 

These words were followed by a halt and 
sighs. " But it would be a burning shame," 
said Madeline, "not to please Aunt Mary ; 
besides, of course, we can do it. We can 
do anything, if we try." 

"So say we all of us ; so say we all," 
sang Ernest. 

And Aunt Mary laughingly replied, "The 



248 Fun for the Household. 

sooner the story is started, the sooner it is 
through, and the sooner it is through, the 
sooner we have the drive." 

''Well, as I'm the starter, here goes!'' 
said Jo. 

*'And," interrupted his aunt, ''when 
your time is up Til call Madge's name, and 
so on. Don't let us have any breaks. Tell 
me a story just as smoothly as if you were 
reading it from a book. Now, Jo." 

" My title is, 'The Adventures of an Irish 
Setter. ' When Ned iVrmstrong was so small a 
boy that he yet wore knickerbockers, he re- 
ceived a short visit from his cousin William 
Adams. He, too, was a little boy and was 
often called 'Sweet William,' on account 
of his sunny disposition, for, notwithstand- 
ing he was sole heir to great wealth, being 
the only child of rich parents, rich enough 
to count their wealth by many millions 
of dollars, — he was neither selfish, exact- 
ing, nor in anyway disagreeable, thereby an 
example to some grown-up people we have 
met. When William came on this visit, he 
brought with him a large, well-trained dog. 
He was a magnificent fellow, and Ned, his 
cousin, was as amazed as he was pleased to 
find that the dog was a present to himself 
from William's father, his Uncle Ned, after 
whom he was named. This uncle had long 
known he must sometime part with Mo- 
selle ; he had been his own from the time 
Moselle was a puppy but two months old. 



Fun for the Household. 249 

The reason for the separation of master and 
dog was the giving up of housekeeping for 
life in a hotel, as Aunt Cornelia, Uncle Ned's 
wife, was now too much of an invalid to con- 
tinue caring for a house, even with the assist- 
ance of a housekeeper, of whom she had tried 
many, and dogs are among the ^ not allowed ' 
in hotels. So, Uncle Ned, remembering his 
little nephew in the country, and knowing 
how he would prize and kindly treat his old 
pet and friend, sent Moselle by his son 
William to him. This gift made Ned, how- 
ever, nearly crazy with delight, and the old 
gardener often feared the results to his 
flower beds after the races which Ned and 
Moselle would take over them. Indeed the 
dog was not to blame if he forgot many of 
his well-trained ways, country life with 
the little boy was so ungoverned by compari- 
son with what it had been with his staid, 
but kind old master. 

'* One day, five months after Moselle had 
changed his home, Ned was missing. No 
one knew where the child had gone. He 
did not have a regular nurse ; but an old 
colored servant called Tamar had been in 
the family many years, and she, with other 
duties, was supposed to keep an eye on 
this child. But Tamar had been negligent 
the time. Ned was missing. The big 
garden was searched everywhere, thinking 
possibly he had fallen asleep under some 
of the rose or berry bushes, but Ned was not 



250 Fun for the Households 

in the garden. Strangely enough, as the 
boy and dog were counted inseparable, 
Moselle was all right and contentedly sun- 
ning himself on a pansy bed, which was a 
favorite place of his, though often scolded 
and chased away for thus flattening the 
beautiful flowers " 

** Madge, it is your time." 

**As Ned was not found in the garden, 
the next place to look was all over the house, 
while the cry of ' Ned ! Ned ! ' was heard 
in every room and from several windows, 
for as one after another looked they would 
throw up a window-sash, thinking Ned 
must be somewhere outside in the grounds 
and would surely hear them call, and they 
would hear his voice in answer, even if they 
did not see him. But it was all in vain. 
Ned could neither be seen nor heard, and 
his mother and sister Mary, a girl of twelve 
years old, who were the only ones of the 
family then at home, finally cried with fright 
and anxiety. But their fright was of short 
duration, for, before an hour had passed, 
Ned was back perfectly safe, without scratch 
or injury, and having the rested dewy look 
to his eyes which all children have who 
have lately woke from sleep. 

''It was Isaac, the stableman, who found 
him. No one ever could really explain 
why Moselle was not with him at the time, 
but the child had wandered alone into the sta- 
ble, and the man passing in and out had not 



Fun for the Household, 251 

noticed him, who, probably tired with play, 
had fallen asleep on the hay. While thus 
asleep, Isaac had closed the stable door and 
fastened it, preparatory to a three miles' drive 
to the flour mill. On his return with the 
meal, the clatter connected with the moving 
of the stable door and getting the horses 
back had wakened the child, who came hur- 
riedly out, rubbing his eyes as he ran, 
and calling at the top of his lungs for Moselle, 
not knowing others had as loudly been call- 
ing for him. But Moselle did not answer. 
There was no running jumping and wag- 
ging of the tail from his dog-friend, for Mo- 
selle was now the missing one. In the 
gladness of Ned s being found, neither Mrs. 
Armstrong, nor Mary, nor, indeed, any of 
the servants, had given the dog a thought, 
and it was not until Ned refused to be com- 
forted that one of the help slowly said, 
'There was a poor old soldier here this 
morning, just af the time Isaac came home 
with the meal. I thought, perhaps, Isaac 
had given him a lift up. He asked for a 
cup of coffee, but I had none made, and 
didn't want to take the trouble to make any, 
so I gave him a couple of slices of bread 
with apple-sauce between. I reckon hes 
made way with the dog, the mean, con- 
temptible wretch 1 

' ' And he had. Moselle was already miles 
away from the house of little Ned Arm- 
strong, and his companion was the same 



252 Fun for the Household. 

poorly-clad half-sick looking soldier that 
the housemaid had given the apple-sauce 
sandwich to that morning. The dog was 
prevented from running home by a strong 
cord fastened around his neck at one end 
and the other end firmly clutched by the 
man's hand, and both dog and man had 
had several helps over the road, as their 
rested-looking condition proved. That 
night, in the city of Wilmington, North 
Carolina, the soldier sold the dog for twenty- 
three dollars to a handsome young army 
officer, at present stationed at Old Point 
Comfort, but who had a three days' leave of 
absence to visit a sick relative at Wilming- 
ton. The dog and his new master had 
already started for ' Old Point ' w^hen the 
officer suddenly remembered — '' 

*' Ernest, your time now." 

''That he had forgotten to ask the dog's 
name, and, as he could not take time to 
hunt the man up from whom he had bought 
the dog, he decided to christen him Duke. 

''It was the month of March, and the 
Hygeia Hotel was a gay scene of life and 
beauty. Among the guests was a charm- 
ing young woman, talented and rich, but 
also very lame. She could not walk with- 
out the aid of a crutch ; but, notwithstand- 
ing this detraction, she fascinated every- 
body by her lovely manner and cheerful, 
sunny disposition. The gentleman who 
had bought Moselle, now called Duke, 



Fim for the Household, 253 

daily dined at the Hygeia, and in a parti- 
cularly fortunate time was presented to the 
lame lady. He was, therefore, the envy 
of all the unmarried army officers who, 
with every one else, would delig-ht in think- 
ing of her as their friend. The young lady 
admired Duke very much, and often petted 
and caressed him, and the dog seemed 
proud and pleased to be in her company. 
However, the time came for the lame lady 
to return to her home in New York, and 
the dog was left alone with his master, 
though I might add, not alone, for every- 
body living at the 'Point' seemed to know 
Duke and would always praise his beauty. 
One old gentleman offered two hundred 
dollars for him once, but it was refused, his 
owner saying, ' I will never sell Duke, 
though some day I may be tempted to give 
him away.' Duke was taught many tricks 
while at the Fortress, among others, to 
carry letters. These he would hold in his 
mouth, but would neither tear them wuth 
his teeth, nor wet them with his tongue. 
He was also taught to '*say his prayers,'' 
which he always did kneeling on a wooden 
chair, with his head resting with closed 
eyes on the back. When 'Amen' was said 
this was the signal to jump over the chair- 
back and shake himself as if pleased to 
have prayer-time over. One day, as the 
mail was being distributed, Duke, as was 
his wont, was standing near, and one of the 



254 Fun for the Householdn 

officers putting a letter in the dog's mouth, 
said : ' Take that to your master. It's from 
his friend, the lame lady.' This the officer 
meant for a joke, but it was really true, and, 
as the letter concerned Duke, we will in- 
sert it here : 

'' 'Dear Mr. G : 



*' 'According to promise, I write 
you the result of the operation, which I am 
sure you will be glad to learn is a complete 
success. My physicians say if I will have 
patience for another month I will then walk 
as well as anybody. Please give Duke an 
extra pat on my account, and whenever you 
feel constrained to part with him, remember 
*' 'Your friend 

** ' Pauline Jerome.' 

''That settles it!" exclaimed Duke's, 
master. * I learned last night I was soon 
to be sent to California, and I at once 
decided my good dog and I must separate. 
And now that he can have so kind a mis- 
tress, and I have this opportunity to win 
the gratitude of my lovely friend, what a 
fool I would be to hesitate longer. On my 
way to California, I will arrange to pass 
through New York City, and will then per- 
sonally give my dog to Miss Jerome.' " 
*' Madeline, will you finish the story } " 
*' Six months have now passed since Duke 
exchanged his home at Fortress Monroe 



Fun for the Household. 255 

for the luxurious apartments of his beautiful 
mistress. The dog- is constantly tended 
with the greatest care, groomed as tenderly 
as if made of human flesh. He sleeps in 
my lady's room and seems truly aristocratic 
with his lordly bearing. His baby-blue 
satin ribbon bow, knotted into the solid 
gold collar, which bears his name and 
address, a Christmas gift from his mistress, 
causes him to appear what indeed he has 
become — almost spoiled with good fortune. 
**But what a change a few short hours 
can make ! That night there was a cry of 
* Fire ! ' My ! the alarm and panic it raised ! 
for the fire was not noticed until there was 
so much flame and smoke that it was with 
the utmost difficulty the immates of the 
house escaped with their lives. Nothing- 
else was saved. Miss Jerome calling to a 
fireman, said : ' Take care of my dog, and 
I will pay you well.' The man, catching 
the dog harshly by the collar, fairly dragged 
him out of the burning building, for Duke 
seemed dazed with smoke and fright. But, 
on reaching the street, the dog was entirely 
beyond control, and, with wonderful strength 
freed himself from the man's grasp, strong 
as it was, and dashed down the street. Miss 
Jerome offered at different times large re- 
wards for his return ; but it was useless, 
Duke and his mistress were never again to 
meet, he was as lost to her as if he had 
nerer existed. Several months passed, after 



256 Fun for the Household, 

the fire, and the dog once more found 
friends, a home, and his old name, Moselle. 
Peculiar events happen in life, and few more 
so than the following. Mr. and Mrs. Adams 
of whom this story first told, had gone to 
the South of France, hoping to recover the 
health of Mrs. Adams, on whose account it 
will be remembered the valued dog had to 
be parted with. They were accompanied 
by Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong and their chil- 
dren, Ned and May. The older people of 
this party were one morning talking on the 
lawn connected with the Hotel de Grace, 
when Ned and May suddenly burst upon 
them accompanied by a large dog, who was 
jumping and tearing around as if wild with 
joy. Seeing Mr. Adams, he left the chil- 
dren, and, jumping on his lap, laid his head 
on his shoulder and moaned and actually 
seemed to weep with gladness. * This is 
Moselle, Moselle ! ' shouted Ned ; ' we saw 
him with an old fiddler out here on the road. 
I thought he looked like my dear old dog, 
though he is so thin and starved looking, 
and I called ''Moselle," and you should 
have seen him run. Those long legs of 
his fairly raced to reach me. Indeed, he 
knocked me down. He was too happy to 
behave, wasn't you, Moselle t ' and Ned 
tenderly smoothed his beautiful head, which 
he yet kept on his old master's shoulder, as 
though they must never be separated again, 
while his tender brown eyes seemed to speak 



Fun for the Household, 257 

of affectionate content. The family never 
again parted with Moselle until he died, 
which sad event occurred towards the close 
of the same year. The dog's exposures and 
privations after the fire, during his varied 
life, seemed to have weakened and injured 
him to such an extent that, though tender 
care was constantly lavished, it came too 
late. All that Mr. Adams ever learned of 
Moselle's history, he heard from the fiddler, 
who had bought him from an old woman, 
who said he belonged to her son, and that 
they had had nothing but bad luck since the 
dog was theirs, and she would be glad to 
get rid of him at any price. The fiddler 
thought the son had stolen the dog, and, as 
he was himself having bad fortune, he deter- 
mined to leave America and return to his 
own country, and had brought the dog over 
the sea, thinking in that way if there was 
any wrong dealing connected with the dog 
he would never be discovered. *But,' said 
the old fiddler, gravely shaking his head, 
* I've always heard ''wrong will out," and 
I'm thankful to dispose of him for so liberal 
a compensation as you have so kindly made 
me.' With these words, the fiddler folded 
his money over, thrust it in his pocket and 
walked away." 

** Thank you for such an entertaining 
story," said Aunt Mary ; *' and now we will 
have our promised drive." 



17 



Fun for the Household. 



ORRIN THE BOOTBLACK. 

'^ Shine, shine, shine! " the cry was as 
earnest as it was pitiful. I rose from my 
seat in the cabin of the Fulton Ferry boat, 
for I was crossing from Brooklyn to New 
York at the time, and found the boy; one 
glance into his honest blue eyes did the 
rest. 

I at once gave him my boots to blacken, 
regardless of the opinion of my man Dennis, 
that he had put on them an extra polish 
that morning, and, while the almost baby 
hand continued to shine them into as daz- 
zling a glare as blackened boots could 
reach, I asked him his name, and, giving 
him my card, told him to call on me that 
evening at seven o'clock. 

'' Mr. Adams, you surely do not mean me 
to understand that your protege, who to- 
night deHvered the valedictory address in 
this honored college, and the bootblack are 
one and the same ? " 

^^do." 

The above conversation was between the 
President of the college and the senior mem- 
ber of the Board of Trustees. 

*'Yes; he is the same, and yet not the 



Fun for the Household. 259 

same, because then he was such a sad little 
fellow, and now he is full of jokes and whole- 
some pranks, a merry wit that gladdens my 
old days, and almost makes a boy of me 
again. At one time, though, I thought he 
would never laugh ; it was such an apology 
for a smile that I first saw cross his prema- 
turely wizened face. But how long ago it 
now seems ! Let me see," thoughtfully 
counting one, two, three on his fingers, 
**why, it must be twelve years since then. 
How time flies ! " 

''Yes, time always does fly, when we 
are busy and happy. But are you aware 
that your Orrin is one of our youngest men .^ 
He gave his age as twenty-two ! " 

''Quite correct.'' 

"Well, I am confounded at your infor- 
mation. I am as curious as I am interested. 
Would you mind some time telling me the 
rest of the boy's story } " 

"Not at all; why not spend to-morrow 
evening with me ? You know we sail Sat- 
urday for the continent, and after that our 
movements are uncertain. Orrin has worked 
hard, and I have promised him this treat, 
and, though he does not know it, I am 
contemplating leaving him at Oxford for 
a year or two. By the way, I would like 
your opinion as to that. But one thing is 
sure — if he stays in England, I stay too. I 
could not put the ocean between us. You 
cannot imagine how my heart holds that 



26o Fun for the Household, 

boy ; so, if you really want to hear my 
chap's story, you would better come to- 
morrow night/' 

'' I will come." 

It was evening, and, when the two men 
were comfortably seated in Mr. Adams' 
library, the following was told. 

Mr. Adams prefaced the recital with the 
words : *' I will photograph Orrin as he first 
appeared in my home, and then, as nearly 
as my memory can recall our conversation, 
I will give it. Twelve years ago, about 
seven o'clock in the evening, a maid told 
me that a small poorly-clad lad, with a box 
under his arm, was asking to see me. He 
had entered by the lower door. I directed 
her to bring him to me, and, strangely 
enough, in my comfortable lounging-chair, 
with the evening paper for companion, I 
had entirely forgotten the engagement I had 
made, but the girl's words instantly recalled 
all, and, a few moments later, I was ad- 
dressing him. His manner was neither shy 
nor bold. He appeared neither surprised 
nor bewildered. I did not note the confused 
air, which I could reasonably expect. He 
met my gaze with the honest, frank look 
that I first noticed, but beseemed sad, even 
painfully. He was such a small boy. He 
evidently was what is so rarely found — a 
gentleman. I almost exclaimed as he stood 
in the doorway, for I noticed the way he 
held his cap ; Beau Brummell in his most 



Fun for the Household, 261 

happy days could not have done better, and 
the bow with which he answered my ' good 
evening/ as well as the response to my ask- 
ing him to take a chair, made me say to 
myself, ' Adams, you must look out, or this 
little bootblack will leave you leagues rear- 
ward in the manner question ! ' His hair 
was dark, very glossy, and slightly curly. 
His face and hands almost shone with clean- 
liness. I especially noticed his nails, and, 
knowing his business, was surprised to find 
that they, also, were quite clean. His 
height was decidedly small for his age (he 
did not really seem to grow much until he 
was about seventeen years old, and then 
how he shot up ! he is just six feet tall 
now) ; his clothes were not patched, but 
threadbare and ragged. The material was 
fine. His trousers only came to his knees, 
and both shoes and stockings were visibly 
the worse for wear. He was not a pretty 
boy, but a manly-looking little fellow. His 
complexion was fair, but pallid ; indeed, 
the boy wore a starved, pinched look. His 
jacket, which w^as buttoned with brass but- 
tons to the neck, hung on him, as if he had 
grown thinner since it was made. So much 
for my photograph. Now for our conver- 
sation, which will give you a better idea of 
the boy, than if only using my own words. 

"- ' Good evening, my little man.' 

*' 'Good evening, sir.' 

*' ' You blackened my boots so well this 



262 Fun fo7' the Household, 

morning, I thought I would like to talk with 
you about your business to-night.' 

** 'Thank you, sir/ 

''*How long have you been a boot- 
black?" 

** ' Seven weeks/ 

"• ' Have you made much money ? ' 

*' ' I make more now than at first, sir/ 

'* ' How much is the most you have made 
a week ? ' 

'''Last week, sir, I made ninety-five 
cents. ' 

"'How much is the least you ever 
made .? ' 

" 'Fifteen, sir; that was my first week, 
when I was new in the business.' 

"'You live with your parents, I sup- 
pose } ' 

" 'No, sir.' 

" ' Don't live with your parents ? Whom 
do you live with ? ' 

" 'With myself.' 

" 'You, a little midget like you, live by 
yourself! Where do you sleep.?' 

" * Wherever I can find a place ? ' 

" 'Where did you sleep last night .f^' 

" 'You won't tell, sir, if I tell you.?^' 

"'No.' 

" 'Well, I've slept for three nights, now, 
in a covered wagon. It has been left out- 
side, and, some way, no one has ever seen 
me crawl into it. Please don't tell any one, 
sir. I really don't hurt the wagon.' 



Fun for the Household. 263 

'''But why don't you go home? Do 
your parents drink? ' 

" 'I have no home, sir ; my parents are 
dead ; they are both in heaven.' And then 
the little hands hastily undid the few top 
buttons of his jacket, and untied a black 
shoe lace which served as a chain. Then, 
stepping nervously towards me, he said ; 
' Would you like to see mamma's picture ? ' 

"I tell you what, sir, this action, united 
to the boy's words, unmanned me. 'John 
Adams,' I asked myself, 'you'll befriend 
this boy? ' And John Adams answered, 'I 
will.' 

"The picture was painted on porcelain, 
a medallion resting on dark blue velvet ; 
the whole was framed in a band of narrow 
gold. The woman was a blonde, delicate 
looking, but very beautiful. She had an in- 
tellectual face, and seemed of good birth. 
In age about twenty-five years. 

" ' Has your mother been dead long? ' I 
next asked. 

" * She died when I was born, and I am 
ten years old. Papa gave me her picture, 
and I always wear it. I would starve, sir, 
but I would never part from it' I am sure 
the boy has it on now, but I would not like 
to ask him to show it to you. He is sensi- 
tive, and I would not risk hurting him." 

"No, indeed, I would not have you, if 
you were ever so wilHng. And what more, 
Mr. Adams ? It is well I did not know of 



264 Fun for the Household, 

this while he was in college ; I am afraid I 
should have spoiled him." 

" Well, I asked him if he had brothers or 
sisters. His reply was — 

' ' * I had one brother ; he died a year ago/ 

'* ' How long since your father died?' 

*' 'Eight weeks, sir.' 

*' 'And you started at the boot-blacking 
business one week later? ' 

' ' ' Yes, sir. ' 

'' 'What was your father's business?' 

"'When he was in business, he was a 
stockbroker.' 

" ' A stockbroker ! ' I exclaimed, although 
I was positive before, judging from his 
mother's picture, that he was born above 
his present position. 'And you say there 
was a time when your father w^as not in 
business. How long ago was that ? ' 

" ' The last two years of his life, after he 
became blind.' 

" 'Tell me all about it, my good boy/ 

" 'My father, sir, must have made a great 
deal of money; we lived in such a hand- 
some house.' 

" ' As handsome as this ? ' 

Looking around before he replied, — 

" 'Oh, yes, sin' 

" ' You say your mother was dead. Who, 
then, kept house for you? ' 

" ' Mrs. Prentiss, our housekeeper. I had 
a nurse first, Nurse Ann, and when I got 
to be a big boy, I had a governess. She 



Fun for the Household, 265 

taught me to read, write, and all I know. 
I have never been to school. We had sev- 
eral servants, and my father kept horses. 
It was the house in which mamma died, 
and everything, papa said, must be as she 
kept house. But, one day, I know not how 
it happened, my father lost a great deal of 
money, and a lot of strange people came to 
the house, and almost all of our beautiful 
things were sold. All the servants left but 
one, and my governess. Papa and I lived 
then in a few rooms. I used to hear papa 
talk about his eyes, at that time, and one 
day he went to see a doctor about them. 
When he came back he told me : * My son, 
I am going to be blind,' and then explained 
to me exactly what that meant. He told 
me that the reason he would be blind was 
because he had used too much tobacco. 
My father smoked a great many cigars 
every day, and sometimes a pipe. He 
chewed tobacco too. I felt frightened when 
I heard all of this, and I remember I cried 
and papa comforted miC. He afterwards 
asked me to repeat these words after him. 
* My papa was blind. His optic nerves 
were hurt because he used too much to- 
bacco. I will never smoke or chew.' My 
papa had me repeat these words until I knew 
them perfectly, and then I said them once 
every day to him until he died. I say them 
every day to myself now. My papa be- 
came blind very soon after we left our home, 



266 Fun for the Household. 

and about six months before he died he was 
sick most of the time. My governess left 
one day, and then I had no more lessons. 
And almost every day our things v^^ould be 
sold, until, when papa died, we had most 
nothing left. About a week after, he was 
buried, some men came to our rooms, and 
then our girl left, and the men told me I 
must go too. I could not live there any 
more. They gave me my clothes, and one 
of the men gave me a dollar. I cried so 
hard that another man said he would take 
me home with him, and I could stay two 
or three nights at his house until I could get 
some work and make money for myself. 
That was why I became a bootblack. 
This man told me it was a good business, 
and, because I was so little and did not 
know what to do, the man and his wife made 
me a present of my outfit and told me 
to watch other bootblacks and cry out : 
''Shine, shine," and so ^q,\. business. The 
man gave me his boots to black while I 
stopped at the house and that taught me the 
way, for I never had blackened boots be- 
fore. I stayed with these kind people for 
one week, and since then I have taken care 
of myself.' 

'' ' Have you no relations .? ' 

'* 'None I have ever seen. The day be- 
fore papa died, he told me I was soon to be 
all alone in the world, that I had no rela- 
tives, and then he said : " Your relatives are 



Fitn for the Household. 267 

all dead, my son, or dead to you/' That is 
all I know, sir.' 

''My heart ached for the child as he fin- 
ished, and I thought, let the consequence be 
what it would, he should not leave my house 
that night. I asked him his name. 

'' *Orrin Thorn dyke,' was the reply. 

"" I told him he was to remain overnight 
with me, and that to-morrow I would inves- 
tigate his story. This he readily did. He 
seemed to be satisfied to do exactly as he 
was told ; he had evidently not yet gotten 
away from the manner of obeying his father. 
I think I told you he was prematurely old ; 
his strange life had made him so. That 
night I scarcely slept, so full of plans was I 
for the future. As you know, I have always 
been a bachelor with plenty of money and 
no relatives who will ever need help through 
me. Before morning I decided that, if on 
investigation I found the bootblack's story 
correct, I would at once adopt him and do 
for him as I would for an only son. This I 
have conscientiously tried to do, and, com- 
ing in and out of this house as the friend 
you are, I trust you think I have done 
right." 

** You certainly have." 

''I have noticed your admiration for my 
boy, and I have been very glad ot it ; and 
how well I remember the first time you saw 
him \ You said I was to be congratulated 
in having for my protege such a manly little 



268 Fun for the Household, 

fellow, and then you added, ' Blood is sure, 
Adams, and I give up judging forever after, 
if good blood is not in this boys veins/ 
Of course, when the child became mine, I 
wanted him to bear my name, but you 
never knew before that the Orrin Thorndyke 
part was his own. Some way, I could not 
ask him to part with it altogether, and so I 
had mine simply added." 

''Oh, what a man you are ; it takes time 
to know you, Adams. And at last, I have 
found out why you so suddenly gave up 
smoking." 

''That is a fact. How could I smoke 
with that child's story running not only in 
my ears, but through my heart } But what 
do you think of Orrin smoking three cigars 
every day ! " 

' ' Surely, you are joking ! " 

"No; I will tell you how he does it. 
When he was fourteen years of age, I gave 
him a monthly allowance, because I wished 
him to early learn the management of 
money. One day, shortly after, he came to 
me with the question, would 1 permit him 
to set aside the value of three five-cent 
cigars a day, and when the amount would 
reach five dollars he desired to put it in the 
bank and so open a smoking account. He 
also said he would regularly add to this 
amount as he could accumulate five dollars, 
and that he would not withdraw the money, 
but allow it to increase both principal and 



Fun for the Household. 269 

interest until he was thirty years of age, at 
which time he and I could decide what 
would be done with it. This I readily agreed 
to do. And now that he has been 'smok- 
ing/ as he puts \i, three five-cent cigars 
every day for eight years, the amount al- 
ready in the bank, at four per cent, interest, 
is not a small one. Why, in the first year, 
without interest, he saved nearly fifty-five 
dollars ! " 

'* If only I had tried that scheme when I 
was fourteen years old, I would be a rich 
man now," replied the President; "how- 
ever, it is not yet too late to start the plan 
wuth my grandchildren." 



270 Fun for the House hold. 



BREAKFAST-TABLE DECORATION. 

*' Mabel!" 

** Well, mamma ! " 

*'Come to breakfast, dearie." The call 
was given through the wide lattice which 
opened on the garden. And at once the 
little girl obeyed the summons. 

And what a charming picture was given 
when the child presented herself in the half- 
open doorway, with her big blue eyes, 
the blue of the sky overhead, cheeks that 
rivalled the peach blossom's rich redness, 
and lips wide parted, with the merry laugh 
that rippled over and over the upturned face ; 
for at that moment she was bubbling beyond 
control with mischief and sparkle, partly on 
account of the buoyancy of the early morning 
atmosphere, but mostly because of the raid 
she had made on the morning-glory vines, 
as her laden hands and arms could testify. 

" I haven't struck the right combination 
yet," were her mother's words, at the same 
time touching a majolica dish of flowers that 
served as ornament for the breakfast-table. 

** Well, I have ! An idea has just sprung on 
me, seized me, as it were ! Stand still where 
you are, little sister, until Tom comes back 



Fun for the Household. 271 

again," and then away the boy flew, in his 
clumsy energy tripping over an ottoman 
that was always at Mabel's place at table, 
because she was not yet tall enough to put 
her feet on the floor. 

It seemed but a second when he returned 
with a cut-glass bowl in his hands, filled 
within one-third of the top with fresh, cold 
water ; and with an air of triumph he re- 
moved the majolica dish, depositing the bowl 
in its stead. 

Then, going to the little girl, who had 
stood motionless in obedience to her big 
brother's command, and with the words, 
** Let Tom have some of your pretty 
flowers/' he took first one and then another. 
The color values, as she held the morning- 
glories, appealed to him, there was such rich- 
ness of reds, purples, lavenders and white, 
with their many intermediate shades, w^hich 
blended softly with the green leaves, vines 
and tendrils. When he had taken enough 
to fill, not crowd the bowl, there were many 
exclamations of satisfaction, for all was 
harmony. The white tablecloth was a fit- 
ting background to the variety of color, and 
the delicate, graceful flowers gave such a 
pleasant welcome at this first meal of the new 
day. 

Morning-glories should be oftener used 
for the breakfast-table. Try what you can 
do with them, boys and girls, and thus give 
a pleasant surprise to your mother. Another 



2/2 Fun for the Household. 

pretty table decoration would be to plant 
woodland vines, and also ferns, oxalis, and 
pretty wild grasses in an ornamental piece 
of earthenware, one that would add beauty 
to the dinner-table. 

Take such a piece to the country with you, 
and remember to fill it with forest mould be- 
fore you put in the woodland plants ; it will 
be most pleasing, and prove a joy all winter 
if you will properly water it ; that is, keep it 
wet, not soggy. 



Fun for the Household. 273 



HOW THEY PLANTED THE NASTUR- 
TIUMS. 

Such a clamorof voices reached grandma's 
ears that her first thought was that the chil- 
dren must have the garden, at the very least, 
half filled with their schoolm ates. But when 
the old lady rose from her big armchair to 
take a sharp look around from the window, 
she was amazed to learn that all the confu- 
sion was made by her two happy, healthy 
grandchildren Margaret and Marshall, and 
they were as busy as could be, planting and 
fussing over nasturtium plants. 

*'See us, grandma," were the pleasant if 
imperative words when they saw their 
grandmother with her head stretched out as 
far as possible, looking first one way and 
then another. 

''See you? Well, I should say I did, and 
what are you doing with that old umbrella 
frame, Marshall ? " was the questioning re- 
sponse. 

" Getting ready for our nasturtiums," and 
the boy tossed his head laughingly towards 
a large quantity of the golden brown blos- 
soms, digging energetically all the while, 
18 



2/4 F^^'^ f^^ iJ^^ Household. 

though, as if moments were more precious 
than he could tell. 

As grandma was anxious to learn all about 
the planting, first Marshall and then Mar- 
garet told her just what they were about to 
do. The gardener at the Jenkins place ex- 
plained what he did. '' And I never saw 
nasturtiums look as pretty before," said 
Margaret, with a sedate shake of her head. 
^^ Besides, it is an altogether new idea, not 
the old sort of a thing that everybody knows. 
It commences by planting an umbrella 
frame, putting the handle deep enough down 
not to break off with the first strong wind, 
or with the weight of vines, either, in case 
they should grow a trifle heavier on one 
side than the other, though, of course, this 
we will try to prevent. The umbrella should 
not be put in a corner, but in an open bed, 
where people can walk all around it Tliis 
frame of ours has eight sticks, and at each 
one we will plant a root. And we are go- 
ing to plant two at the handle, one on 
either side, and not close enough to crowd 
each other. As the vines grow, they will 
be trained up the handle and along the sticks, 
making the effect of a diminutive tent, and 
while this old frame is rather an ungainly 
sight at present, in a few weeks the bed will 
be simply gorgeous. 

''Oh, they are so pretty !'' Margaret con- 
tinued, lightly and fondly touching the 
bright flowers, ''such a variety of shades. 



Fun for the Household. 275 

yellow, orange, even to a deep brown, and 
the vine is willing to wind any way we will ; 
it is naturally graceful, with just enough 
foliage and not too much. Why, the old 
frame will be the prettiest thing in all the 
country around/' 

''I only hope our neighbors will not 
watch and try the same thing for them- 
selves/' was Marshall's interjection. 

*'They probably will not before next 
summer," was grandma's assuring comment, 
"and then your nasturtium umbrella would 
be one year old/' 



2/6 Fun for the Household. 



A GARDEN PARTY. 

Dinners, receptions, and concerts have 
been attended through the winter until 
everybody is tired of the old routine ; but en- 
tertainment which is associated with trees, 
flowers, gorgeous sunsets, out-of-door life, 
touches the heart and makes of every such 
occasion a real joy. 

How shall we give 3./ete champefre P 

A lawn is a necessity, and should the 
trees not prove sufficiently exclusive, sur- 
round the grounds with canvas. The can- 
vas may be concealed with boughs of 
green, running vines, flags, banners, or 
anything that willlessen its ugliness. The 
entire grounds must be decorated. Japan- 
ese lanterns might be used freely ; several 
hundreds of them will be required, as they 
should be liberally scattered everywhere — 
not only in the grounds, on the trees or 
canvas serving as fence, but on the piazzas 
of the house. 

A good orchestra should be hidden be- 
hind a clump of balsam or other bushy 
trees. The leader should be untiring in his 
efforts to give enough and desirable music. 
If ballads are sung, the orchestra leader is 



Fun for the Household. 277 

responsible for the accompaniment, and he 
is equally responsible for the dances, should 
such be given. The air should be filled 
with music, but to the pleasure and not the 
annoyance of guests. 

Conversation and music are always im- 
portant factors of entertainment ; but to 
these an extravaganza may be added, or a 
play — for example, the whole or part of As 
You Like It, or A Midsummer Nigh fs Dream, 

Should As You Like It be given, screen a 
section of the lawn to represent the Duke's 
palace. A conversation-room may readily 
be arranged. Remove one or more screens 
and see a room, the ceiling of which would 
be the sky ; the side walls folding screens, 
which may be adjusted to any shape and 
size ; the floor would be the grass covered 
with rugs. On these rugs stand a few 
chairs, a couch, and a small table. With 
such surroundings, altogether at home would 
Celia seem, while she would say : 

" Why, cousin ; why Rosahnd ; — 
Cupid have mercy ! — Not a word } " 

The many songs, especially *'Underthe 
Greenwood tree'' and "What shall He have 
that killed the Deer } " would prove very 
appropriate in the forest of Arden environ- 
ment, and the trees would be quite in place 
for the love-verses of Orlando. 

Or the guests might be served with a liter- 



278 Fun for the Household, 

ary salad. Paste or draw pictures on cards 
to illustrate the title of a book, and give one 
to each person. Whoever shall make a 
correct guess without assistance within fif- 
teen minutes may be presented with a wreath 
of laurel. This may be worn on the head or 
carried on the arm. 

Sometimes ^./ele champetre is given for 
sweet charity. It then assumes a different 
phase, as booths, chalets, or tents are erected, 
within which saleable articles are offered. 
An effective fete might be given in athletic 
grounds, which should be noticeably gay 
with streamers of bunting and little and 
big flags. At such a fete a large orchestra 
should play the entire afternoon. 

It would be very attractive if those in 
charge of the chalets would represent milk- 
maids, as this allows picturesque apparel. 
The young ladies might go bareheaded, or 
wear a gay handkerchief coquettishly knot- 
ted under their braids or curls, or cover 
their heads altogether by donning the new 
lawn sunbonnet, which is such a dainty 
feature of this summer's outing. 

The chalets should be small lean-tos, their 
roofs tilting towards the back and resting on 
four poles, one at each corner. These chalets 
should be festively trimmed, and contain 
such products as milk, cream, cheese, and 
eggs. As these are all necessities in house- 
keeping, the financial result should be quite 
large. 



Ftifi for the Household, 2yg 

Gowns and hats, flounces and ribbons, 
form a conspicuous part of ^/ete champelre. 
Sheer grenadines, nets, and gauzes, clouds 
of Valenciennes lace, beflowered organdies, 
any of the effective summer costumes, the 
more fetching the combination the more 
satisfactory the attire. The color contrasts 
are allowed to a greater extreme than for 
street apparel, and brilliant colors produce 
a smart effect on the lawn ; and yet the 
dainty white, yellow, pink, or blue fabrics 
may be always afterwards worn to advan- 
tage, they are so fresh and youthful. 

The smart costume requires the broad- 
brimmed hat coquettishly rolled, and massed 
with lilacs, morning-glories, sweet-pease, 
roses, or carnations, and the often added 
long ribbon streamers. But the flower 
toque, and the parasol of white mousseline 
de sole trimmed with flowers and a flounce of 
lace, and the pretty or quaint fan, aid the 
charming gown in producing an artistic 
effect. 

The guests arrive in pony carriages, high 
carts, or victorias, and the closed brougham, 
like an old friend, is always admissible. 
The host and the hostess seem especially 
cordial, standing, as they do, under the 
broad branches of a tall tree. Indeed, stern 
Madam Propriety would deem such warmth 
of welcome scarcely permissible under a 
lighted chandelier. But if, as it has been 
known to happen, the day of the fete should 



28o Fun for the Household, 

also be the day of the worst storm of the 
entire season, the guests are received, if pos- 
sible, on the piazza, and all aid in making, 
merry and helping the, hostess to such an 
extent that people forget that a /^/^ cham- 
petre was ever considered, and that it was 
not meant to be a house party from the 
beginning. Of course no one should allude 
to the weather ; that would be decidedly 
out of form, and be very unkind to the 
hostess, who certainly cannot stop the 
storm. 

In such a shaping of events refreshments 
are served in-doors, if possible using the 
same little tables intended for the lawn, the 
cloths, which are edged about with ferns 
and field-flowers in variety, added to the 
pretty china and cut glass used in serving 
the menu, lend the charm of beauty. 

The menu for such a function may be the 
same as that given at an evening reception, 
or it may be the simple refreshment pro- 
vided for an afternoon tea, with an added 
salad or ice. But as an afternoon spent in 
the open air gives good appetite, liberal re- 
freshment will be in order. 



Fun for the Household. 281 



THE KING^S CHILDREN. 

'^ Pearly ! Pearly!" 

It was a woman's shrill voice that fiercely 
shrieked the name out into the morning 
air. 

We were homeward bomid from the Old 
Red Spring in Saratoga, when we were ar- 
rested by her screams. The sun shone 
brightly, the robins and other song birds 
were trilling out their sweetest melodies, the 
air was heavily scented with white clover 
blossoms and sweetbrier. It was a rarely 
beautiful July morning. All the world to 
us was melody, save the jar made by this 
thin, haggard, unkempt woman. In her 
effort to be heard she travelled along the 
road in the direction she thought Pearly 
must have gone, crushing the daisies and 
buttercups down before her. 

Two Sabbaths before we had sat at the 
communion table, and then felt a kinship to 
all, that our brothers and sisters were not 
only those of our very own by ties of blood, 
but were close to us the round world over. 
The Sabbath before, as the clergyman said, 
** freely ye have received, freely give,'' we 



282 Fun for the Household. 

thought more of the giving of ourselves than 
of our money, more of letting others have 
a share of the good gifts that had been our 
lot, joy, music, loving-kindness generally, 
than of offering our filthy lucre. Indeed, it 
seemed a great descent, for we had been 
taken up on the moment by our pastor's 
tender words, and now must remember 
Vanity Fair and the necessity for money in 
this worldly world. And so thinking, this 
woman with the wild, disagreeable voice, 
stopped us ; and should we not do some- 
thing to help her, was the question put to 
ourselves. 

She was one of the resident Saratogians. 
Cross, possibly, because she was tired ; hag- 
gard, because she had no time for rest. To 
her the Spring waters were as a myth, and 
the dry, bracing air little considered in her 
work-a-day existence. We, therefore, turn- 
ing in the direction in which this woman 
went, commenced our search for the little 
girl, for such we decided she was, but all in 
vain. Whether Pearly, familiar to the harsh 
voice and recognizing extra work or dis- 
agreeable duty as a result of coming to the 
front, had hidden behind the large clumps 
of elderberry bushes which grew thickly 
around, or had run off to the woods for 
protection, we know not ; we only know that 
we had to leave the woman to conclude her 
search alone. But the words, "Pearly! 
Pearly ! '* now and again caught our ear, 



Fun for the Household, 283 

though indistinctly, as the distance widened 
between us, and later we lost the sound al- 
together. Then it was that another Pearly 
came into our thought. 

She had been baptized Margaret ; but the 
old-fashioned long name had been shortened 
during her babyhood to the beautiful name, 
"' Pearl.'*' She has always been loving and 
lovable, and always seemed consecrated, 
even from her cradle. Many of the wise 
people have often gravely said of her, ' ' That 
child can never live to grow up. She is too 
good." But she has lived to grow up, and, 
nothing happening, in a year or two more 
she will be graduated from one of our most 
respected women's colleges. She, even as 
a little child, never had to be punished. 
"• Pearl, that is wrong ; you should not act 
or speak that way," was the most serious 
chiding she ever needed to receive ; for 
when told she had done wrong, she would 
immediately say, ''I will try never to do 
that again." And she invariably would 
keep her promise. 

As a schoolgirl she is a general favorite, 
being popular enough to receive the unani- 
mous vote for class president, for Pearl is a 
sunny, bright, sympathetic girl. The truly 
good are always the truly happy. Her 
religion is of the character to attract, not to 
repel. And possibly there are nowhere to 
be found keener or more severe critics than 
schoolgirls are of one another. The long- 



284 Fun for the Household, 

faced piety, as it is sometimes called, would 
receive from them only ridicule and con- 
tempt. The abandon of youth is not slow 
in exposing what they consider trustless and 
wrong. 

But my story would be loo long to tell 
many incidents in the life of Pearl ; to tell 
the many ways she has helped all with 
whom her short life of eighteen years has 
brought her in contact ; to tell of her sym- 
pathetic words, helpful handclasp, feet 
swift to run on deeds of kindness, voice 
raised in song, thus aiding others in the 
schoolroom, the prayer-meeting or the 
home. Indeed, Pearl was constantly form- 
ing new ties, thus binding the hearts of all 
who met her to herself. 

The incident of which I would particularly 
write is her work as a Kings Daughter. 
She was one of the earliest to join this or- 
ganization, and the first band she formed 
was to pay for the education of a young 
girl in the same school as herself. This 
young girl was the only child of a rich 
father, but it was the old story — a dishonest 
partner used the firm's money for speculat- 
ing purposes, and in an evil hour all was 
gone ; not only money, but reputation also, 
and Elsie, the only child, must now leave 
school, it seemed, forever. Then it was 
Pearl came to the rescue ; and first binding 
her ten to secrecy, because it would wound 
Elsie to ever know, it was arranged with 



Fun for the Household. 285 

the President and officers of the school that 
this band should pay for Elsie's schooling ; 
and she will graduate with Pearl, all un- 
conscious of the one to whom she is in- 
debted. 

Elsie's father was notified by the school 
President that his daughter was too much 
beloved not to have an opportunity to 
finish her education. If he was ever able 
to refund the money, all right, if not, it was 
still all right ; and this is all Elsie or her 
father know. 

Since then Pearl has started nine other 
bands, each doing noble work for Christ and 
humanity. With only one of these is she 
herself connected. It every year supports 
ten poor, aged women, who otherwise 
would be obliged to go to the almshouse. 
By the help of this King's Daughters' Band 
these women remain in their own little 
homes, passing the hours as their desires 
dictate, and not feeling the pain which 
Will Carleton so vividly describes in his 
poem, "Over the Hills to the Poorhouse." 
No wonder that these poor old women 
frequently ask God's blessing on these young 
girls, for they are so comfortable and happy 
as they thus quietly wait for the summons 
to the other home whose builder and maker 
is God. And no wonder that Pearl wears 
a happy face, for the face indicates the 
heart within. The good she has done, and 
may yet do, will never be known here, nor 



286 Fun for the Household, 

is it necessary. Sufficient for Pearl will be 
the words which we hope will also be ours 
someday, ''Enter thou into the joy of thy 
Lord." 



Fun for the Household. 287 



FOR THE BOYS. 

Why should not the boys be as busy and 
helpful as the girls ? 

Why should not the boys form their '' Try 
Bands," *^ Working Circles" and ''King's 
Sons' Societies ? " 

There is no reason. Will not, therefore, 
the willing, manly boys who read this enlist, 
their friends to help at least one of their 
heathen brothers to a Christian education ? 
It is work that will give abundant reward. 

American boys know how much care is 
taken for their education. Not only are their 
teachers, but their mothers, fathers, brothers 
sisters and other relatives, their constant 
instructors. The greatest culture and op- 
portunity surround them ; valuable libraries 
are ever at their disposal. There are num- 
berless free schools, art rooms and museums. 
Beside the private academies, institutes, and 
colleges, there are Young Men's Christian 
Association rooms. Christian Endeavor 
Societies, churches and Sunday-schools, all 
open and giving hearty welcome. Not so 
are the privileges of the boys in India, 
China and Japan. For though the Bible 
and our missionaries have done a great deal 



288 Fun for the Household. 

to help the heathen boy, his surroundings 
are dark indeed, in contrast with those of 
children in Christian lands. Indeed, it is 
rare that a heathen boy is not a castaway 
by his family when he confesses Christ. 
Instead of relatives being- a help to his life, 
they are among his greatest sorrows. 

Boys ought to be willing to give other 
boys a chance, especially when they stand 
alone. If ten boys would form a band, they 
could easily collect thirty dollars a year, and 
thirty dollars would pay all the yearly ex- 
penses of a boy in a mission school or 
academy. This academy prepares boys for 
the theological seminary, and the seminary 
fits them for the ministry. Indeed, when in 
the academy, boys often go out to talk and 
sing to those who do not know of Christ. 
They feel sure that their heathen friends are 
missing so much in not knowing Jesus, that 
they cannot wait until they have completed 
their studies ; but as soon as they know 
about Jesus themselves they are impatient 
to tell others. They can talk to their friends 
with greater effect than missionaries from 
this country, because they understand their 
customs and ways. Besides, the terrible 
heat in India does not affect them as it does 
people who go from this country. Very 
often our missionaries and their families have 
to return to America on account of their 
heahh. 

Some of the boys in India are very bright. 



Fun for the Household. 289 

I will tell you of one who is about fifteen 
years of age, and is a student in the Arcot 
Academy, India. His name is Joseph, son 
of the catechist Israel ; his mother's name 
is Rachel. You will notice they are all 
Bible names. This family were once 
heathen, but now all know and love Christ, 
and are happy in working for Him. I lately 
had the pleasure of reading a letter written 
and composed by Joseph, without any aid 
from his instructors. I wish it were possible 
for my boy readers to see his penmanship ; 
it seemed nearly as perfect as copperplate. 
Each letter was very distinct and prettily 
shaded. Every word was spelled correctly, 
and while his composition had not the exact 
style we would use, it was very direct and 
intelligible. I doubt if many American 
boys of Joseph's age could do better with a 
French or German letter, or in writing in 
any other language than their own. Think- 
ing you might be interested in hearing from 
Joseph, particularly as he tells of what he 
does on the Sabbath, and of his school life, 
I will quote directly from his letter : 

" Madras Presidency, Ranipet, India. 

** Most Respected and Kind Madam : 

*'My superiors, teachers and fellow-stu- 
dents are doing well up to this time by the 
grace of our Almighty, hoping the same for 
you. . . . 

^9 



290 Fun for the Household. 

** I solicit you, dear madam, pray for me 
that I may obey my superiors ; I don't like 
to have the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 
in vain. But I want to publish His name. 

*' Every Sunday we all go over the 
country and preach about the Gospel. 
Many of the heathen become Christians. 

*' There are eight bands in the school. 
When we are going to preach, each band 
will take three or four lyrics, some tracts, a 
cymbal, and a jalar or tambourine. When 
we are singing many men and women and 
children will come to hear us. 

'^ After our preaching is over we take ac- 
count of the men, women and children who 
come to hear our preaching. Most of them 
will ask questions, and we will answer them. 
Many of them will abuse the name of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. Though they abused 
Him, we won't leave these men, since they 
don't imderstand what Christ has done for 
the world. We have meeting every Friday 
evening, and in that meeting we wuU give 
our reports of the men who heard the Word 
of Christ." 

Referring to his studies, he writes : 

"- Now there are four classes, viz., matric- 
ulation class, the fifth class, the lower sec- 
ondary class, and the lower fourth class. 
There are five teachers, including our man- 
ager. Each class changes its lessons after 



Fun for the Household, 291 

©ne hour. Our manager teaches gen- 
eral English for the four classes, and also 
takes English history for the fifth class, and 
science, physics and chemistry for the sixth 
class. He shows many good examples and 
gives us good games. He is very kind to- 
ward us. We have many sorts of games. 
Tennis and football and cricket and gym- 
nasium exercises. Our manager teaches us 
cricket every evening." 

As this boy is writing to the one who 
supports him, he closes in the following 
manner : 

"I thank the Lord for having given me a 
supporter. I render my warm and delight- 
ful obeisance to respected and dear madam. 
I remain your most obedient 

' ' PoNNOR Isaac Joseph. '' 

After reading this letter, which is not a 
fancy sketch, picture in your mind Joseph, 
his surroundings, a young Hindoo boy, 
whose dark-skinned face glows enthusias- 
tically with his love for Christ and with his 
ardent desire to tell others of his love, writ- 
ing in a strange tongue to a lady whom he 
has neverseen. He has her photograph, and 
has received letters from her, but her voice 
and manner are only conjectures in his 
mind. He is writing to this lady, who has 
beca the means of his salvation, of freeing 



292 Fufi for the Household, 

him from his yoke borne by his countrymen. 
Try to picture this, and then see if in your 
own heart there is not a strong- desire to free 
more than one boy in that dark land. In 
freeing one, you free others : do not forget 
that. 



Fun for the Household. 293 



"I WISH I WERE A GENERAL." 

" If wishes were horses, 
Beggars might ride." 

" Have you ever heard that, Jo ? " 
''Heard it, what kind of a bringing up has 
a fellow had, do you think ? You know well 
enough that ever since I was in knicker- 
bockers, that immortal rhyme has been 
drilled into me. Tm sick and tired of ser- 
monizing, and all I have to say is, if you 
don't wish for something grand, something 
beyond you, you never will amount to 
anything/' 

*'That is true, Jo, but wishing without 
action will not accomplish much. I've 
heard you make at least twenty wishes this 
morning. One, * I wish I was rich ! ' just 
as though that were anything new ; all boys 
wish that. Then you wished you were 
somebody great, somebody famous, like 
Caesar or the Czar of Russia, or the Presi- 
dent ofthe United States. Then you wished 
your father could only let you have a col- 
lege education so that you might be a 
lawyer. And then, to go on to smaller 
matters, you wished it was Christmas, so 



294 F^<'^^ fo^ ^^^^ Household. 

that you might have vacation. And lastly, 
you wished you were a fine bicycle rider, so 
that you might win the prize in the coming 
race. I tell you, old fellow, I long ago 
learned such a wholesome lesson on the 
wishing point, that it made me over new, 
so to speak." 

**How so, John.? now I am interested, 
for I thought you had been perfect from 
your youth up." 

*'Well, to begin with the beginning and 
make an out-and-out confession, I'll have to 
introduce you to my Uncle Charles. I wish 
you knew General Journay ; I know you 
would like him even if he is an odd-looking 
man ; he was once very handsome. He is 
too sensible to think he is handsome now, 
though, for there is no denying that he*s fat. 
He says it is constitutional, and maybe it 
is. I notice he is very uncomfortable, short 
of breath, you know ; gets a red face in 
climbing up the stairs to the elevated road, 
and all that, but he's jolly and good, and 
says he wants me to be a manly man, and 
I am going to try my best to please him. 
You know I am not as rich in relations as 
you are, for my parents died when I was 
a baby, and I never had either brothers or 
sisters ; perhaps that's one reason I think so 
much of you, Jo. Well, to go on with my 
story, when I was about twelve years old I 
went to visit for a week at my Uncle Charles' 
home. He was delighted to have me with 



Fun for the Household, 295 

him, and I never tired of his companionship, 
or of looking at his soldier's uniform, his 
sword and his medals. One day I said to 
him, *0h, Uncle, I wish I were a General,' 
and he replied, * There is no reason why 
you cannot be one, my boy, if the right 
material is only in you.' " 

'' 'What do you mean by right material, 
Uncle? ' I inquired. 

'''Why, humility, obedience, courage, 
honesty, truthfulness.' 

'' ' I did not know that soldiers were ever 
humble.' 

" 'You must be humble enough to enter 
the lowest ranks, obedient enough to follow 
orders, courageous enough to face any 
emergency, honest enough to submit to 
pain rather than to steal, and truthful enough 
never to soil your lips or conscience with 
a lie.' 

"Then my uncle told me of his own 
boyhood, of his poverty, his hindrances, his 
temptations ; and I saw that the rank of 
General did not come by wishing, but by 
the greatest endurance, study, and hard 
work. I tell you what, Jo, as I listened to 
his story 1 felt so ashamed, and so small, 1 
thought I would like to crawl away in a 
hole, anywhere almost, if I could only hide, 
for you know my uncle is such a noble, 
grand man. Then, too, my uncle told me 
of our great inventors, officers, rulers, whom 
the world is delighted to honor, and I saw 



296 Fun for the Household. 

that wishing had but little to do with their 
achievements and successes. I saw I had 
to buckle on my own armor and go to 
work. 

'*That night I could scarcely sleep; I 
kept thinking how insignificant uncle must 
think me, for I knew I had often wished 
for this, that and the other thing in his 
presence, and so when I did sleep I 
dreamed that I was in the woods, and I 
thought that all the bushes and trees were 
waving, and one big branch seemed like a 
long, bare arm beckoning to me. I felt an 
awesome, queer, uncanny feeling, and I 
was sure I was losing my way. I saw one 
and another path, but which one to take I 
knew not, when suddenly I heard a laugh ; 
this frightened me so much that I jumped ; 
then a voice said, ' You little goosey-gander, 
what a brave soldier you would make, to be 
sure, afraid of a little laugh ; ' and then I 
heard ha ! ha ! ha ! and what seemed to 
me to be the most uproarious laughter, the 
shout of a hundred fairies. Soon a tiny old 
woman approached me saying, * I am a 
fairy queen. Ask for whatever you may 
wish while you are in my domain } ' 

"• At once I exclaimed : ' I wish to be the 
oldest General living.' And there 1 was, a 
general in very truth, but so old I could 
scarcely see, so deaf I could scarcely 
hear ; and I was dressed in a costume 
similar to my uncle's. My hands were 



Fu7i for the Household. 297 

wrinkled, a long beard hung over my breast, 
but it was as white as snow. My mouth 
felt so queer that I lifted my hand to dis- 
cover the reason, and alas ! my teeth were 
all gone. I tried to walk, but I was so stiff 
I could scarcely place one foot before the 
other. 'Oh, what a fool I have been/ I 
thought. * If only I were a boy again .? Oh, 
Uncle Charles, Uncle Charles ! ' I screamed. 

*' ' Why, my boy, what is the matter, you 
were groaning and moaning so in your 
sleep, I thought something must be wrong?" 
were his words. 

*' Wasn't I grateful, though, to find it was 
only a dream. It seemed too good to be 
true, to learn that I was really a boy again, 
that life was before, and not behind, me. 
I tell you, Jo, I could scarcely wait for day 
to come, to get at positive work. And since 
that horrible nightmare, w^hich taught me 
the silliness of wishing, I have been a 
changed boy, and I do not think I will ever 
fall into that purposeless talk again. But 
you don't like sermons, excuse me, Jo." 

'' You are a good fellow, John ; I should 
not be worthy of friendship such as yours, 
if I did not benefit by what you have told 
me. I will try to follow your example. 
What do you say to our both being manly 
men ? '' 

"Those words have the right ring.'' And 
so saying the two friends walked off arm 
in arm. 



298 Fun for the Household. 



A HEBREW CHRISTIAN. 

Sydney Arnheim was a Jew. I say was, 
because he has thrown off the yoke of the 
Jewish faith, and this little story will tell 
you how it all came about. 

Sydney is an only child ; his parents are 
rich ; his father, a famous Wall Street broker, 
is a power among his kind ; his mother also 
belongs to a wealthy Hebrew family, and 
her refined taste and education show clearly 
in her surroundings. Anything that appeals 
to her exquisite judgment is purchased, so 
that Sydney's home shows everywhere the 
touch of elegance, as well as the fitness of 
perfection. Sydney's own room bears the 
print of her careful taste, and yet prominent 
among the rich hangings and delicate fur- 
nishing you see a Winchester rifle, a trout 
pole, also a buck's antlers, a blue crane, a 
kingfisher, and several other well-known 
birds, all so skilfully prepared by the taxid- 
ermist that you could scarcely be blamed 
if you thought them yet alive. Yes, Sydney 
is a regular boy, and loves to keep trophies 
of his sport in sight, as well as his gun and 
trout pole. He says at times, '*It makes it 
seem as if I'm in the Adirondack woods 



Fun for the Household. 299 

whenever I look at them, and simply lifting 
my rod recalls some experiences with papa 
^in the boat with our guide, or else wading 
the streams with my tutor and drawing out 
big fish." So Sydney's mother, knowing the 
comfort these recollections bring, allows her 
son to place his sporting equipments just 
where and as he pleases. Thus the room 
has an odd, menagerie style of appearance. 
And thus the home of this Israelitish family 
everywhere tells of comfort and luxury. 

Sydney, from his babyhood, was carefully 
trained in the customs and belief of his 
people. His mother, so frequently his com- 
panion, constantly talked about the great- 
ness of his lineage, and told him of the patri- 
archs, legislators, warriors, singers and 
prophets which were among the Hebrew 
people. She also told him of Abraham and 
Moses, and of the covenant with Abraham 
at Jehovah-jireh, ''In thy seed shall all the 
nations of the earth be blessed," and also 
what the Lord said to Jacob at Bethel, ' ' The 
land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give 
it, and to thy seed." And she daily urged 
her son to walk in the footsteps and keep 
the covenants of his people, and always to 
serve the Lord God of Israel. The rabbi 
also would frequently visit their home, and 
Sydney was accustomed to talk to him, as 
well as to receive the old man's instruction 
and blessing. Sydney loved to hear from 
him the stories of Moses, Aaron and Joshua ; 



300 Fun for the Household. 

of the Tishbite and his servant EHsha ; of 
Solomon and the temple ; of the son of 
Jesse, David, the sweet singer, and of the 
promise of the Messiah to come. 

And so it was when Sydney had attained 
his seventeenth year that when asked what 
he would most like for his birthday-gift he 
replied, **The education that will fit me the 
most thoroughly to preach, not alone to my 
people, but to win many erring ones, be- 
lievers in the ' false Christ ' to turn to the 
true faith." He was at this time, therefore, 
and for seven anxious, wearisome months 
afterwards, ihQ Jewesl of all Jews, a devoted 
follower of Moses, but not of the Lamb. 

About the time of the birthday above al- 
luded to, there came for a visit of three 
months a cousin of Sydney, a little girl about 
three years his junior. She, young as she 
was, however, was a Christian, and had the 
Easter previous publicly confessed Christ, 
and united with the same church her par- 
ents had long attended. 

The question might readily be asked, 
*' Since she was Sydney's cousin, how was 
it that she was not also a believer in the 
Hebrew faith ? '' The reason is this. Her 
mother was Sydney's fathers sister, and 
when very young, only seventeen years of 
age, had surprised and grieved her family by 
stating she was about to marry a gentleman 
who was not of her religion. Many words 
regarding the matter were exchanged at 



Fun for the Household, 30 1 

the time, but they were useless in prevent- 
ing the marriage, and a year later she sad- 
dened her parents yet more by renouncing 
her Hebrew faith, and connecting herself 
with the church of her husband. He was 
a most exemplary gentleman, however, and, 
notwithstanding his religion, his wife's peo- 
ple could not fail to have a most profound 
respect for him. So, in time, the families 
visited back and forth, but the topic of relig- 
ion was never introduced. Sydney's father 
would sometimes sigh wearily, when talk- 
ing of his sister, and say his hope was that 
she would yet return to the belief of- her 
forefathers, and that in time all must be 
well. 

So now the little Edith was to spend 
many weeks with her Jewish relations, but 
she had been told to be careful about her 
attendance at church, and ever watchful of 
her conduct, indeed to act in every way as 
the child of the dear Christ whom she loved 
so well. Her mother, however, before con- 
signing her to her brother's care, simply 
said to her, '' I will pray for you, dear, that 
your faith fail not,'' and '' Have no fear, 
mamma,'' was the sweet reply. *' Jesus 
will be with me in Uncle Nathan s home, as 
well as in my own. Perhaps He will even 
have work for me to do there. You know Dr. 

M last Sabbath morning talked to us on 

the subject of missions, and said there were 
many kinds, and while we should pray and 



302 Fun for the Household, 

work for the foreign and domestic fields, we 
must also remember those of our own house- 
hold, indeed, all everywhere, who do not love 
the Saviour." So Edith's mother had no 
fear for her child, and into the uncle's home 
there came a blessing, the measure of which 
cannot be counted by any earthly rule or 
computation, for who can measure the joy 
of even one soul turned to the Saviour ? 

Edith and Sydney were now great friends, 
for while they had known each other always, 
the constant companionship led to the 
warmest friendship, and they were therefore 
as good com.rades as a boy and girl cousin 
could well be. Neither religion nor any 
topic bearing on it was ever discussed be- 
fore Edith. She never attended their church, 
nor they hers. When the Sabbath came she 
would always be accompanied to the church 
door, and when the service was out some 
member of the family would be found with- 
out waiting to walk home with her, and 
during her entire visit neither by word or 
action was she allowed to feel she stood 
apart from her Jewish relations, and there- 
fore the time passed all too rapidly onward. 
She remembered her promise to her mother, 
and most earnestly she prayed to God to 
direct and help her. She also prayed for 
her uncle and aunt, imploring the Father in 
heaven to lead them into the light ; but 
particularly she prayed for her cousin Syd- 
ney. They were such comrades, so nearly 



Fun for the Household. 303 

of an age, and yet she felt there was a great 
gulf fixed, and therefore she constantly plead 
that he might learn of the Christ, the Sa- 
viour. 

One day, just after a most fervent prayer 
for Sydney, her cousin approached her un- 
observed while she was reading from the 
New Testament. He exclaimed, on seeing 
the title, '' Why, Edith, I never had a copy 
of that book in my hands. I should like to 
read yours sometime, if you don't mind." 

'' Mind ! why no, Sydney. Take it along 
with you now." 

And he did. When her cousin left, Edith 
prayed as she never had before, beseeching 
the Father to let the scales drop from his 
eyes and show unto him the Christ. And 
God did open the boy's eyes. He did not 
read through a glass darkly, but with clear- 
est vision. The brightest light fell on the 
divine Word, the light which later led to his 
giving up his old Hebrew faith, and his ac- 
ceptance of Jesus. 

All did not come at once. At the first read- 
ing he was troubled, anxious, but not satis- 
fied. He had many old questions to settle ; 
he had much pride to put aside ; he spent 
many hours, and at times away into the 
night in prayer. But peace at last came, 
the peace which he feels will endure until 
the day when he will see the King in His 
beauty. 

And now Sydney longs for the conver- 



304 Fun for the Household. 

sion of his parents, and of all of his peo- 
ple. His wish is to preach Christ, and so 
do all in his power to lead his brethren, the 
Jews, unto the everlasting joy of the New 
Jerusalem. 



Fun for the Hotisehold. 305 



THE BABY'S LESSON. 

It was blossom-time, and in the quiet of 
the early May morning the church bells 
rung out their loving call. *'Come, come, 
come ! " they seemed to say, and, accepting 
the invitation, we shortly found ourselves 
sitting, with other strangers, in the Episcopal 
church of a favorite resort. 

It was during the Scripture lesson that a 
little maiden of about four years of age 
quietly walked up the long aisle, looking to 
right and left, scanning the faces in every 
pew, until she had reached the chancel. 
The clergyman's voice was no doubt 
familiar to her, for she showed no timidity. 
Not seeing the one she sought, she turned 
and tripped down the aisle again. But on 
nearing the door she put out her hands and 
extended her arms in a pleading baby fash- 
ion, as if to say, ''I do not want to go 
away. I cannot find my papa or mamma, 
but will not some one lift me up .? I came 
to church to stay." And a kind-hearted 
man, seeing the gesture, took up the baby 
beside him. 

The little one reverently entered into the 
worship of the hour. As prayer followed 
prayer, the blue eyes closed tight, and the 
20 



3o6 Fun for the HouseJiold, 

wavy golden hair fell forward over the bent 
head. At the time of singing she rose with 
others, and her voice carolled out the tune, 
though her words were those of her own 
devising. One little hand tightly clasped 
a penny, and as the collection-plate was 
passed she eagerly dropped in her contri- 
bution. 

It was time to go home, and as nearly all 
present were strangers, many watched to 
see what the baby girl would do. A mother 
by my side said to her, *^ I have a little girl 
at home, about as big as you. I would not 
want her to be lost, and if you will tell me 
where you live I will take you home.'' Then 
a quiet dignity seemed to possess the wee 
maiden, as with courteous action she pointed 
to a large white house about one hundred 
feet away. Lifting the blue eyes to the 
lady's face, she replied, ''I live there. I 
love to come to church, and I thought I 
should find papa ; he always goes, but " — 
gravely shaking her curls — '' I couldn't find 
him this morning. But I can go home by 
my own self." And then, child fashion, she 
ran on, as though to satisfy us that she knew 
the way. 

Walking under the apple boughs back to 
the hotel, we thought of the sermon this 
child's presence had preached. And the 
question came, Why do not all parents so 
train their little ones that they love God's 
house ? This little girl had given the con- 



Fun for the Household. 307 

gregation a lesson which should make a 
children's day of every Sabbath the year 
around. The Bible says, ** Their angels do 
always behold the face of the Father/' and 
** Unless ye become as a little child, ye can- 
not enter the kingdom." 

Where young children sit side by side 
with their parents in church, and so learn to 
'* remember the Sabbath day," they will 
early wish to consecrate their lives to Christ. 
They will not enter heaven ''so as by fire," 
but ''as kings crowned," for they will not 
wait to work for the Master until the time 
when the "grinders shall cease because they 
are few, and those that look out of the win- 
dows be darkened," but will use the hours 
of every day as in God's sight, and in the 
companionship of Him who is invisible. 



3o8 Fun for the Household. 



PARLOR FORTUNE-TELLING. 

Nothing so much lends enchantment to the 
hours or wings them to merry flight as for- 
tune-telling. And particularly fascinating is 
the art of foretelling the future through the 
medium of palm-reading. When a bright 
girl who has the faculty of revealing char- 
acter and prophesying the future by inspect- 
ing the hand is in a drawing-room, the 
hostess need not fear for the pleasure of her 
guests, for the fair magician will take care 
of beaux and belles alike, leading them on 
to happy marriages and boundless wealth 
(for no real fortune-teller ever forgets matri- 
mony and money). Nor will the young 
people alone be anxious to learn what is 
written in the palms of their hands, for more 
or less superstition lingers with us all. And 
what if there has been a small error regard- 
ing character-reading, or a trifling discrep- 
ancy relative to past events, one happy 
guess will cause all such mistakes to be 
forgotten : and besides, the necessity for 
verification is seldom urgent. Palmistry is 
not altogether pastime, any more than divi- 
nation is altogether jugglery, for no hand is 
exactly like another hand ; the intersection 
of the lines, the stars, the mounts, the 



Fun for the Household. 309 

texture, really do supply a guide to the 
character of the owner. And if, added to 
the knowledge of hand-reading, you are a 
student of the face — and every one is more 
or less a physiognomist — you will arrive at 
fairly correct conclusions. 

Palmistry is linked with astrology : the 
first finger belongs to Jupiter, the middle to 
Saturn, the third to the Sun, the small finger 
to Mercury ; Venus is in the thick part be- 
low the thumb, the plain of Mars is directly 
under the mount of Mercury, the moon con- 
trols all beneath the kingdom of Mars. This 
link between the planets and the hand was 
arbitrary ; astronomers distributed deities 
among the planets, and the planets were 
supposed to partake of the nature of the gods 
and to influence life. 

Palmistry also depends on analogy and 
symbolism. Every mark on the hand has 
some mystical meaning. A star denotes 
success, barred lines indicate obstacles ; 
where several parallel lines are formed in- 
stead of one, they show a variety of pur- 
suits, instead of force only in one direction. 
If lines are long, gently curved, and red, 
they indicate a gentle disposition ; if you 
have a special talent, there will surely be a 
perpendicular line from the base of the hand 
toward the fingers ; this line is sometimes 
doubled. Long tapering fingers indicate 
high mental qualities, a love of the arts» a 
thirst for knowledge, and strength of mem- 



3IO Fun for the Household. 

ory, while the contrary shows a tendency 
to rapid progress at first, only to be followed 
by failure in all intellectual undertakings. 
People with short fingers are apt to be im- 
pulsive , if they are very short, they indicate 
lack of tact. Long-fingered people go into 
detail, and are punctiliously careful about 
trifles. Twisted fingers with short nails 
show tyranny and a worrying temperament. 
If the fingers fit closely together, their owner 
is apt to be avaricious ; if smooth, they indi- 
cate indiscretion and talkativeness. But if 
twisted and showing spaces between, the 
person is sympathetic and generous. Sen- 
sitiveness is shown by the small fleshy pro- 
tuberances, which stand out from the curved 
surface of the finger-tips. If your fingers 
are broad, you will love things for their 
practical uses ; your taste will be for indus- 
tries, mechanics, commerce. If your finger- 
tips are square, you will be fond of litera- 
ture, logic, language, you will be inclined 
to theorize, and you will have respect for 
authority. The joints of the fingers have an 
importance, so they too must be carefully 
examined. Indeed, no one part of the hand 
can be taken alone ; a joint or a line or a 
mount may so change the meaning of what 
you have already observed, as to greatly 
modify your conclusions. Conic fingers 
show a love for the beautiful, the ideal and 
romantic, but the well-developed joints may 
add moral force, as also does a large thumb. 



Fuji for the Household. 3 1 1 

Hands that are always white, regardless of 
temperature, tell of selfishness and conceit, 
lack of sympathy for the sorrows of others. 
Soft hands tell of a lazy, lethargic tempera- 
ment ; hard hands show a love of exercise 
and labor. Soft hands indicate tenderness 
rather than fidelity, while hard hands indi- 
cate true love, but not much tenderness or 
passion. Smoothness of the hands show^s 
delicacy of mind. A wrinkled hand, if soft, 
shows sensitiveness ; if hard, irritability. 
Pale lines in a hand show a phlegmatic dis- 
position, in a man amounting to effeminacy. 

Each mount is of as much import as are 
the indications found on the fingers. On 
the mount of Jupiter you will learn of honor, 
ambition, religion. If it is very large it 
shows tyranny and ostentation ; if small, 
idleness, egoism, vulgarity. A cross found 
on this mount will tell of a happy marriage ; 
if a star is found as well, the marriage will 
be wealthy and satisfactory to the highest 
degree. A spot on this mount shows igno- 
miny and dishonor. 

The mount of Saturn, which is at the base 
of the second finger, tells of caution, credu- 
lousness, timidity. If very large, the individ- 
ual will be melancholy, quiet, and morbid. 
A solitary line on this mount indicates bad 
fortune. 

The mount of the Sun, when prominent, 
insures success, genius, pride, eloquence. 
If the mount is extremely large, wealth 



312 Fun for the Household. 

extravagance, luxury. A single line on this 
mount means glory. 

Below the little finger on the outside of 
the hand we look for the mount of Mercury, 
and there learn of invention, speculation, 
agility. Excess of this mount indicates 
cunning, treachery, and falsehood. 

Below this mount we find Mars, which if 
very prominent, shows the owner to be 
brusque and violent ; if it is small, look out 
for cowardice and meanness. 

The mount of the Moon, which is found 
lower still, denotes a love of the mysterious ; 
those possessing this mount to a high degree 
are also inclined to revery, as well as to 
idleness. They are likewise capricious, 
changeful, and irritable. In hard hands you 
will also read discontent and fanaticism. 

The most important of all the lines on the 
hand is the line of life. If long, clear, and 
straight, it shows long life and good char- 
acter ; if pale and broad, the indications are 
ill health and a weak disposition ; if thick 
and red, the owner is apt to be violent to 
brutality ; if varying in thickness, this will 
show a fitful and high temper. 

The greatest caution must be used by any 
reader of the hand, and before even a pre- 
tension is made to judge character or to 
foretell the future, much careful study of the 
many books on this subject should be given. 
The student must learn from different author- 
ities, as well as by thoughtful study and 



Fun for the Household, 3 1 3 

comparison for himself. Many rules must 
be applied, and there are many conflicting 
forces to harmonize. The hand is of the 
utmost importance in human economy. 
Aristotle denominated it ''the organ of the 
organs." After the murder of Cicero at 
Caieta, not only his head but also his hands 
were exhibited in the Roman Forum. The 
homologies have been traced between the 
human hand and the paws of the brute crea- 
tion, and it has been proved that to man 
alone was the perfect hand given, exquisite 
in beauty as well as paramount in useful- 
ness. 

Palmistry is an old science. As early as 
the year 1504 there was a book published in 
the city of London on The Art of Foretelling 
the Future Events by Inspection of the Hand, 
It has been asserted that Homer wrote on 
the lines of the hand. Probably most peo- 
ple are familiar with the verse assigned by 
the superstitions as Scriptural warrant for 
indulging in this popular art : Job xxxvii. 
7, *' He sealeth the hand of every man, that 
all may know his work." 



314 P'^^ f^^ i^^^ Household, 



CHURCH COURTESY. 

It was only a smile as the Hymn-book 
and Psalter were offered ; it did not cost 
the young man anything, but it gave us, the 
recipients of his courtesy, pleasant satisfac- 
tion. We did not feel as if the books were 
grudgingly given, but rather that a sym- 
pathetic bond had united us, that we would 
like to know this cordial generous young 
fellow, and thought if this were a sample 
of the people in that church, we would like 
to make it our home. The entire service 
was so heightened by the incident that we 
scarcely missed our old familiar surround- 
ings, and really had almost forgotten that 
we were strangers, so one with us the peo- 
ple appeared ; and when the preacher later 
gave for his text the words, *' The greatest of 
these is Love," it seemed only natural that 
this should have been the thought selected. 

By contrast, w^e feltseverely the difference 
which the following Sabbath brought. It 
was again the early service, and we sat 
strangers in another city church. The open- 
ing hymn, which was not a familiar one, 
was announced, and an old man sitting in a 
pew behind gave us his book. Two young 
men occupying the seat with him each had 
a hymn-book with notes, but instead of 



Fun for the Household, 315 

looking on the same book, so having one to 
spare, they each selfishly kept their own, 
neither offering one to the old gentleman 
who, I later learned, had gone without for 
our sake, nor giving a book to two ladies 
^ who were in the pew with me, and were 
strangers like ourselves. As a result, we all 
felt uncomfortable; the clergyman's sermon, 
excellent though it was, did not meet with 
proper response. Our thoughts were di- 
vided, the atmosphere was unpleasant, we 
claimed that the church seemed very cheer- 
less, that even the lighting of it was not sat- 
isfactory, and, indeed, we were so unhappy 
by the ungracious action of the two young 
men back of us that we were glad when the 
benediction was pronounced, and we could, 
borrowing an illustration from the time of 
the Apostles, shake the dust off our feet, and 
turn toward home. 

The question is sometimes asked, Why 
are there so many vacant pews in our 
churches '^. And the blame is laid on the 
hard-working minister. Well, his shoulders 
are broad and accustomed to carrying bur- 
dens. All the sorrows and annoyances of 
the people become a part of his daily load. 
But stop. Let us put the answer to this 
question where it belongs, not on the minis- 
ter, but nine-tenths of the time on the con- 
gregation. ''Be not forgetful to entertain 
strangers," are the words of the Bible, and 
we cannot go to a better book for advice. 



3i6 Fun for the HouseJiold, 

*'Be courteous/' are also two words found 
there. 

A young man, not a church-goer, once 
said to me, ''I wandered into Dr. L.'s church 
the other morning, and I was shown into 
one of the very best pews. Later the family 
came, and they gave me every attention. 
When the service was over, the gentleman 
who sat at the head of the pew allowed his 
family to pass out, and waited for me. 
Then offering his hand, said he was very 
glad I had been put in his pew, and he 
hoped I would come to church again very 
soon, every Sunday if I would, and then he 
added, * Young man, don't ask an usher for 
a seat, come right in here with me any time. ' 
''Now,'' continued this young gentleman, 
''that's what I call business. I enjoyed 
the service that morning, was not made 
to feel as if I was an offscourer, but as if I 
was welcome. I'll go again soon ; that's 
the right kind of a church. The singing 
was beautiful, and I'm fond of music ; the 
sermon, too, touched the right place, but I 
think what had more to do with it than any- 
thing else, was that courteous family and 
the hearty hand-shake afterwards." 

We, neither of us, can weigh the influence 
we have on our neighbor. Perhaps it is 
better for our own peace we cannot. But 
we must remember a smile may save a soul. 
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of 
the least of these, ye have done it unto me," 



Fun for the Household, 317 

A BRAVE BOY. 

J *' How shall our class raise one hundred 
dollars for the benefit of the church-debt 
fund ? " was a question recently put to eight 
young- girls by their Sunday-school teacher. 

'' Have a fair in the early fall ; we will 
work for it all summer/' was the first an- 
swer. 

*'* No ; that might interfere with the ladies' 
fair, which comes during December. It is 
to be a mammoth one this year, and we 
must not anticipate the event nor risk retard- 
ing its prosperity, but rather do our part to 
push it forward.'' 

" Suppose, then, we have a cake sale," 
was the suggestion by the eldest one of the 
party. That was at once vetoed, as more 
properly belonging to our mothers and 
grandmothers. 

" I tell you what, girls ! " ejaculated Jes- 
sie, '' let us make candy ; ^oX all the orders 
we can and supply our customers. We can 
make lots of money that way." 

*' Yes, if we can get the customers," 
added Hattie. * ' / thought maybe we could 
get up an entertainment, and so I brought a 
book containing a colloquy in three parts, 
which will just take in all of us. There are 
eight characters, so it would fit exactly." 



3i8 Fun for the Household. 

** Good for you, Hattie," was the quick 
reply, and the bright eyes and excited man- 
ner of each of the scholars showed that such 
enthusiasm could not fall to result in suc- 
cess. 

Later a satisfactory programme was ar- 
ranged, consisting of music, recitations, 
tableaux and the above-mentioned colloquy. 
The entertainment was to be given in the 
parlors of one of the scholars, and the tickets 
for young and old were to be offered for the 
sum of twenty-five cents each. 

My ! how the girls worked, not alone in 
the necessary preparation for their part of 
the programme, but in the sale of tickets, 
which were disposed of rapidly. 

At last the much-looked-for night had 
come, and never did stars seem more bril- 
liant, or moonlight more beautiful. Such a 
crowd ! Long before the time for showing 
the tableaux, which were to open the en- 
tertainment, the parlors and halls and even 
the stairs were full. A man was stationed 
at the door to receive the tickets and any 
money which might be offered. 

But was it any wonder that little Theodore 
Vandervoort, who is connected with one of 
the younger classes of the Sunday-school, 
found himself surrounded by so many bigger 
and older people, that he was not seen? or 
that the money he had expected to give at 
the door should not be taken ? 

What a temptation this now presented ! 



Fun for the Household. 319 

His father and mother would never know. 
The twenty-five cents would buy a great 
deal of candy, or the new ball he wanted so 
much, or a box of figs, or several bananas, 
of which he was very fond. But no, Theo- 
dore was an honest boy and would therefore 
scorn to use money which was not his own. 
This twenty-five cents had been given to 
him to pay for the entertainment he was now 
enjoying, and he would not expend it for 
any other purpose. So the following morn- 
ing, before he entered school, he paid his 
debt, personally going to the house of the 
teacher who had charge of the entertain- 
ment and, with a few words of explanation, 
leaving the money. 

And so Theodore Vandervoort proved 
himself a hero, an example to many an older 
boy, as well as to many fathers and mothers. 

Even in a small boy we see the future 
man, and if God wills that Theodore Van- 
dervoort shall grow to manhood, we are not 
afraid to predict great things of him, to 
prophesy that he will be a man above re- 
proach, a king among his fellows. 

May the boys who read this story beware 
of falling into temptation, or dohig the first 
dishonest act ; but rather let them be brave, 
noble and upright, as was little Theodore, 
and so receive not only peace of conscience 
in the present life, but the joy which is 
eternal. 

As for the entertainment, it met with the 



320 Fun for the Household. 

success that generally attends zeal and hard 
work, and so overflowing was the treasury 
that the girls scarcely needed the added 
twenty-five cents. Yet honest Theodore, 
in taking his first opportunity to get out of 
debt, which is out of danger also, had set 
for all who read these words an excellent 
example. 



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